WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD) joined Congressmember Karen Bass (D-CA), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, and Representatives Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Shelia Jackson-Lee (D-TX), Judy Chu (D-CA), and Joaquin Castro (D-TX) in issuing the following joint statement:

“Our offices have been alerted that African asylum-seekers from Cameroon and other African countries, many of whom were allegedly improperly coerced by ICE to sign voluntary deportation orders, will be deported as early as tomorrow morning. Upon their arrival to their designated countries, many will be at imminent risk of death. Their deportation should be put on hold until the new administration is sworn in and able to carefully review these claims. Anything otherwise is outrageous and unacceptable. We plan to introduce a measure this week to condemn this deportation should it take place. The United States should uphold its commitment under international treaties related to refugees and asylum-seekers and halt this unjust deportation.”