UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has issued its latest legal guidance today on the way States should treat asylum-seekers who arrive at their borders in an irregular way.
Under Article 31 of the Refugee Convention, States are prohibited from penalizing asylum-seekers and refugees merely because they have entered a country irregularly, if they meet certain requirements.
This is owing to the fact that many flee life-threatening situations and may have no other available means to seek safety. In addition to a dearth of legal or safer pathways to seek asylum, many may face impediments in accessing or retrieving essential documentation during their flight.
The US isn’t a signatory to that treaty because we have a shithole government, but reputable government organizations that aren’t run by monstrous assholes have been really clear on what should be patently fucking obvious (if someone is fleeing for their life you get them to safety first and worry about their fucking paperwork later)
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The US isn’t a signatory to that treaty because we have a shithole government, but reputable government organizations that aren’t run by monstrous assholes have been really clear on what should be patently fucking obvious (if someone is fleeing for their life you get them to safety first and worry about their fucking paperwork later)