Quixote Center works to influence United States policies that impact the people we work with. We advocate with Congress and the Administration to change US foreign policies that exacerbate extreme poverty and vulnerability in Haiti and Nicaragua.  Extreme poverty, violence, and vulnerability lead families to make the heartbreaking decision to migrate, to the United States or elsewhere. We work to address these root causes when they have a US policy solution. We also advocate for immigration policies in the United States that promote the dignity of migrants, focusing on preserving the asylum system. 

Our current priorities include:

  • Ending illegal weapons trafficking to Latin America and the Caribbean, especially Haiti;
  • Ending the use of economic sanctions when they impact the most vulnerable;
  • Transforming global humanitarian assistance;
  • Safeguarding the asylum system;
  • Ending “border externalization” that pressures other countries to adopt policies conforming to US border strategies.

Quixote Center impacts policies through:

  • Encouraging our supporters to send letters to Congress and the Administration;
  • Scheduling in-person meetings with Members of Congress and the Administration;
  • Working in coalition with allied organizations.

You can view a recent webinar on Weapons Trafficking to Haiti . 

Click for our latest action.

Does Biden really want to end Title 42? From Haiti to Nicaragua, it doesn't seem like it

Fri, 05/06/2022 - 8:46pm by Tom

As we've been discussing now for a few weeks, the Biden Administration decided to bring enforcement of Title 42 policies, which enable the US government to expel asylum-seekers without allowing them to apply for asylum, to a close on May 23. The announcement has led to a political backlash from Republicans and even many Democrats. As a result, several GOP attorneys-general sued the Biden administration for ending Title 42 too quickly.

Immigration advocates gather in front of Union Station in Washington D.C. to welcome migrants in a press conference.

Texas joins the Title 42 frenzy

Fri, 04/15/2022 - 4:23pm by Tom

Texas' governor Greg Abbot is putting immigrants on buses to Washington, D.C., apparently as some kind of protest related to the Biden administration's decision to end Title 42. The first bus arrived on Wednesday, April 13, but not at Homeland Security, Congress or the White House. Rather, the bus arrived in front of a building on Capitol Hill that houses several television networks' newsrooms, including Fox.

The Title 42 nightmare may be coming to an end… but what comes next?

Fri, 04/08/2022 - 4:16pm by Tom

“Expelling asylum seekers under Title 42 has not done anything to protect us from COVID” From the Congressional of Dr. Adam Richards, Physicians for Human Rights

Title 42 appears to be on its way out. After two years and 1.8 million expulsions, impacting well over 1 million people, Biden announced, and the CDC confirmed, that Title 42 would end on May 23, 2022.

Quixote Center organized the Vigil to End Title 42 at the CDC offices, Washington, D.C. on March 21, 2022.

Work to End Title 42 Now!

Fri, 03/25/2022 - 2:38pm by Tom

The Centers for Disease Control and Protection the Order Suspending Introduction of Certain Persons from Countries Where a Communicable Disease Exists on March 20, 2020. The order claimed authority under Sections 362 and 365 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, 42 U.S.C.

Biden has deported nearly as many Haitians in his first year as the last three presidents - combined

Fri, 02/18/2022 - 3:23pm by Tom

Biden has expelled nearly as many Haitians in 12 months (20,200+) as were deported during the previous 20 years (22,000-23,000)*** under three different presidents. Indeed, Biden’s administration has likely expelled far more: In addition to these official removal numbers, another estimated 8,000 Haitians were expelled back into Mexico in September of 2021, voluntarily according to DHS Secretary Mayorkas, but in circumstances that make that characterization suspect.

Stop the Deportation Flights artwork.

Haiti's Biden Problem

Fri, 01/28/2022 - 1:29pm by Tom

The Biden Administration deported more than 16,000 Haitian refugees between September 19, 2021 and January 25, 2022. A large portion of these expulsions are family groups; nearly 20% of those expelled are children. The obscenity of expelling refugee children, some as young as 15 days old, would seem to require no complicated exegesis to demonstrate. It is quite obviously the wrong thing to do. Yet, Biden persists.

Flight Eastern 3503, taking Haitian refugees from El Paso to Port au Prince, Jan. 12, 2022.

Biden marks anniversary of earthquake by expelling more Haitian refugees

Wed, 01/12/2022 - 4:06pm by Tom

Twelve years ago today, a massive earthquake brought down buildings throughout the Port au Prince area, killing hundreds of thousands of people and displacing many more. As a result, January 12 is a national day of mourning in Haiti.

For the United States it is just another day to expel Haitian refugees - 443 Haitians were expelled today on three flights. 

Despite ongoing crises in Haiti, Biden keeps expelling Haitians from the US

Tue, 12/21/2021 - 3:54pm by Tom

On Monday, December 20, the Biden administration sent three removal flights back to Haiti, with over 340 people on them including 32 children. As we move into Christmas week the administration plans to send planes every day back to Haiti, except for Christmas eve. Since taking office, the Biden administration has removed over 14,000 people to Haiti; at least 11,100 since mid-September. 

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