Biden administration admits first group of migrants forced to stay in Mexico under Trump era policy

Biden administration admits first group of migrants forced to stay in Mexico under Trump era policy

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Under former President Donald Trump, the United States forced migrants from Central America and other parts of the world seeking asylum on the southern border to remain in Mexico until their US immigration court hearings.

More than 70,000 people have been submitted to the program. Many waited months, if not years, in miserable conditions and under threat of extortion, sexual assault and kidnapping. The Biden government estimates that some 25,000 migrants still have active cases. This group will be eligible for the first phase of the reversal.

The so-called “stay in Mexico” policy, which came into effect in January 2019, was an unprecedented departure from previous protocols, which allowed migrants to enter during their immigration hearings in the United States. Reverting will be a big lift.

On Friday, the Biden government launched its effort to gradually allow entry of migrants subject to the policy. The admission process for migrants began at the port of entry of San Ysidro, located on the border between California and Mexico. A limited number of individuals previously registered by international organizations have passed through the port.

“We mainly rely on partners and civil society organizations that have worked with these families and these individuals … and have indicated their vulnerability,” a United Nations official told reporters on Thursday, referring to as the first group of migrants was chosen.

The individuals were required to test Covid-19 before entering the United States.

Additional ports will begin processing next week, including Brownsville, Texas, on February 22 and El Paso, Texas, on February 26, according to the Department of Homeland Security. The department will increase capacity over time to allow more migrants subject to the policy to enter.

Misinformation and rumors spreading along the border

One of the challenges that the government faces in its implementation is the fight against rumors. Disinformation has spread across the US-Mexico border, through smugglers or word of mouth, among migrants desperate for answers. On Friday, dozens of people came to the port on the Mexican side, motivated in part by rumors, hoping to enter the United States.

The United Nations refugee agency is using social media to transmit relevant information about the policy reversal, asking migrants to remain and register virtually until instructed otherwise.

Defenders of immigrants welcomed Biden’s commitment to end politics and allow subjects to be admitted to it, but implored the government to act quickly.

“This Trump-era policy was a humanitarian disaster, depriving thousands of asylum seekers of a significant opportunity to obtain asylum, while forcing them to endure dangerous conditions in Mexico, where they were the targets of kidnapping, rape and other abuses,” said Judy Rabinovitz , a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union and lead attorney in the policy-defying case, in a statement.

“The Biden government’s action is a welcome start to end this inhumanity, but it must act quickly to remedy the life-threatening situation facing all those affected by this policy,” she added.

For months, authorities meticulously planned to reverse the policy, formally known as Protocols for the Protection of Migrants, and became involved with immigrant advocacy organizations across the border that worked directly with migrants.

International organizations are helping in Mexico. Test sites have been identified in Mexico in each of the three cities where enrollment will take place, United Nations officials told reporters this week.

After an individual has virtually registered and is confirmed eligible to enter, they will be asked to approach the test site 24 hours before the crossing date, according to a United Nations official. There, migrants will be tested for Covid-19. If the result of a test is positive, it will be quarantined for 10 days.
“Through the State Department’s Department of Population, Refugees and Migration, the United States is funding international partner organizations with experience in conducting medical examinations for migrant populations around the world to assist individuals before they arrive at the ports of entry of USA “, according to a State Department Data Sheet.

Once migrants enter the United States, the Biden government relies heavily on defense organizations to help them get to where they need to be. Some, for example, may have family or friends in different parts of the United States and will go to those locations to conclude their immigration court hearings there.

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