The US administration on Tuesday broadened the framework of a program allowing relatives of migrant children to apply to become legal guardians, a measure intended to support the influx of young migrants from Central America who have come to seek refuge. in the USA. The program says “Central American miners” («Central American Minors program» in English), had been set up by Joe Biden in 2014, then vice-president of Barack Obama, to allow parents legally resident in the United States to obtain custody of their children who arrived alone on American soil.
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Former Republican President Donald Trump had ended this program, which was however quickly revived after the arrival of Joe Biden at the White House. The program therefore extends the possibility of becoming a legal guardian to family members of children who are not their parents (grandparents, aunt, uncle, cousins). Joe Biden’s administration is also opening the program to guardians whose legal status is in the process of being determined, including parents who themselves have filed an asylum application still being processed.
“We are firmly committed to welcoming people to the United States with humanity and respect, as well as providing a legal alternative to irregular immigration.”Homeland Security Minister Alejandro Mayorkas, currently in Mexico, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement. “We are keeping our promise to promote safe, orderly and humane immigration from Central America through this extension of legal channels to seek humanitarian protection in the United States”, they added. The State Department has identified 3,162 migrant children who could benefit from the measure, spokeswoman Jalina Porter said. The decision comes as Joe Biden comes under fire from criticism from his Republican opponents, who blame him for the current influx of migrants on the southern border of the United States.
Vice-President Kamala Harris, charged by the Democrat with tackling this thorny issue, visited Mexico and Central America in early June to tackle the causes of the record influx of migrants. The number of undocumented migrants arrested at the border between Mexico and the United States reached its highest level in 15 years in April: among these more than 178,600 migrants including minors who arrived alone, 82% came from Mexico and the United States. “North triangle” from Central America – Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. The Central American Minors program allows unmarried nationals under the age of 21 from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador to apply for asylum or, if denied, temporary status that does not qualify for US citizenship. .
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