Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, founder of Arizona Jews for Justice, is excited about Biden’s commitment to reunite migrant families, but he’s also preparing for a new kind of border crisis.
A substantial portion of AJJ’s work involves assisting asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border. But since January 2019, when Donald Trump’s administration instituted the “Remain in Mexico” policy to deter asylum seekers from entering the U.S. on the southern border, there haven’t been many to assist.
Biden has pledged to do away with the program, which means Phoenix and its Jewish community need to be prepared to help and welcome newcomers, Yanklowitz said.He anticipates up to 300 asylum seekers per day will need immediate assistance.
“We are right now calling for volunteers in the community,” he said, adding the group is in need of lawyers, medical professionals and people to contribute supplies and donations to cover costs. Fundraising over the past year has been a challenge, he added, and the effort is around $100,000 short of “where we need to be” within the next three months.
Still, he remains hopeful about the change in the White House. “This country was founded on inclusivity and was built by immigrants.”
THANKS SO MUCH,, IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMESֱ
