Covid-19, the Coronavirus, has wreaked havoc across the globe — an international health pandemic on a significant scale. While we now have vaccines, the roll-out and access to these vaccines is spotty, and there is still no curative treatment. Communities continue to see surges in cases, particularly communities of color and those in the Global South. While we are starting to see some relief ahead, we know that Covid will continue to have a widespread impact on public health, economies on multiple levels, and social and economic well-being for some time to come.

Consequences for people in migration —whether migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and the internally displaced— are a particular concern. Many borders remained closed or restricted; families are surviving in precarious migrant shelters and refugee camps; and undocumented families fearing arrest and deportation are afraid to seek medical care; people in detention lack access to sanitation precautions and “social distancing”. Xenophobic politicians continue to rant about the “Chinese” or “foreign” virus as immigrants, and Asians in particular, are being targeted for racist verbal and violent physical assaults.

On this page, NNIRR provides a round-up of community information and educational resources, as well as advocacy initiatives and actions to ensure that all immigrant community members have safe health care access and inclusion in economic recovery efforts. We will continue to update as advocacy and action opportunities emerge.

Safety and health access are human rights and governments must take responsibility for protecting ALL in this moment of crisis.

NNIRR has responded to this crisis by bringing together dozens of civil society partners on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border to press mayors and governors to provide safeguards for migrants and asylum seekers who are especially at risk from the multiple impacts of COVID-19. 

In 2020, NNIRR co-authored a binational letter with over 100 sign-ons demanding local border governments safely decongest encampments, release families from immigration detention and remove border patrol checkpoints on roads leading to hospitals.

• Organizational Sign-on for Border Advocacy: The deadline is open and the list is growing for this important call for human rights protections.
  

  In English: Organizations can read the letter and partner with us by signing-on.

  En español: Puede revisar la carta aquí y agregar el apoyo de su organización llenando este formulario. The deadline is open and the list is growing for this important call for human rights protections.