The states of Texas and Missouri sued the Biden administration in April for suspending the program, and a federal court granted them in August. He ordered the government to resume measures criticized by human rights organizations.
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The government is now trying to comply with the court order, but at the same time is not giving up trying to end the initiative from the era of former Donald Trump, whose official name is abbreviated MPP (Migrant Protection Protocols).
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Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in his August decision did not prohibit the government from making another attempt to repeal the measures, and according to the AP, officials have now announced a new plan, which they hope will withstand possible judicial review.
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A possible renewal of the MPP, even if it is a short-term matter, would contribute to a confusing mix of US measures in relation to the border with Mexico, Reuters reported. It recalls the continued implementation of last year’s pandemic decree, which allegedly served to quickly expel more than 1.1 million migrants from the United States since March 2020.
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Hundreds of thousands of people have illegally crossed the US-Mexico border this year, and the number of arrivals has reached its highest levels in 20 years in recent months.
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Inhumane, Biden criticized earlier
This puts the Biden administration in a difficult position following an election campaign in which the current president has clearly defined himself against the harsh immigration policy of the then head of state. The “Stay in Mexico” policy was introduced by the Trump administration in early 2019 as a measure to prevent the entry of asylum seekers into the United States.
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Under the MPP, more than 60,000 refugees were returned to Mexico, and in the months following the imposition of the measure, the number of illegal crossings across the southern border of the United States dropped significantly. However, the move was condemned by advocates for migrant rights, as people waiting in Mexico to process their applications were exposed to violence and had difficulty accessing lawyers or information about their cases.
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The current administration states that it cannot restore the MPP without the consent of Mexico, as acknowledged by Judge Kacsmaryk. In 2019, the Mexican government acceded to Trump’s plan under threat of an increase in tariffs. Both sides are now saying that the conditions for relaunching the controversial policy are being negotiated, Reuters writes.
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At the same time, Mexico demands that the processing of asylum applications generally does not take longer than six months, as well as better information for applicants on proceedings or exemptions for vulnerable groups.
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Preparatory action by Washington, according to Thursday, included the construction of temporary courtrooms near the Mexican border and the increase in the capacity of the immigration system, which is currently flooded with 1.4 million cases.
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The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that it remains committed to “building the secure, orderly and humane immigration system” promised in the election campaign.
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