All About the End of the “Remain in Mexico” Policy
The Trump administration left some lasting legacies behind that are likely to show for generations. Among his most controversial and consequential moves in office were his immigration policies.
Believe it or not, in his 4-year term, President Trump signed over 400 executive orders on immigration, with it being such a hot button issue for his party.
Among his most influential immigration policies, one of them stood out. However, we can now say that the controversial “Remain in Mexico” policy is now officially over, but what does this mean? Let’s talk about that.
What Was The Remain In Mexico Policy?
To mark the second half of his term, President Donald Trump’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on January 25, 2019, the implementation of the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP). This became informally known as the “Remain in Mexico” policy because that’s essentially what it was.
The policy was designed to allow US border agents to return non-Mexican citizens to some of the most dangerous parts of Mexico while their claims are being prepared in immigration courts in the US.
This came after a caravan of over 7,000 people fleeing their homes to find safe refuge in another country was receiving a lot of news coverage on conservative media, which Trump then acted on with pressure from his base.
This was clearly not about “migrant protection”, as the name may suggest. Then-DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielson argued that this would allow for more resources to be dedicated to taking asylum claims. However, the fact was that just after a year of the MPP’s initiation, tens of thousands of people were unnecessarily put in harm’s way.
The End Of The Remain In Mexico Policy: What’s Next?
The good news is that the policy was reversed. At the very beginning of his presidency, President Joe Biden’s immigration policies started making massive shifts from the previous administration and he even paused the program very shortly after entering office on January 20, 2021.
For many migrants, things were looking up. Since then, more than 11,000 migrants seeking asylum have been allowed to enter the US to pursue their claims. Reversing this policy clearly led to much more humane treatment for asylum-seekers.
Current Trends
However, Biden’s policy changes are not all good news for asylum seekers. In fact, border arrests reached a 15-year high in April 2021, with similar rates in May. This came after over 100,000 detentions in February alone. Figures for June are not available yet.
While Biden has rolled back several of Trump’s harsh immigration policies, he has left a few intact, likely because of pressure from an evenly divided Senate and a relentless GOP making claims of Biden’s intentions to open our borders to anybody.
One of the policies Biden has left in place is Title 42 from back in March of 2020. This allowed authorities to rapidly send migrants back into Mexico during the pandemic. It was very similar to the MPP, just under the pretense of Covid restrictions.
Vice President Kamala Harris, speaking on behalf of the administration, made her first trip abroad in her position, in which she made a clear announcement: Stay away from the US border. In her own words, “do not come.”
While certain improvements have been made, the two administrations don’t show enormous contrast on the immigration front.
What Does This Mean For Migrants?
Anybody that you know who may be crossing the border, or anybody living in the US without documentation is still at risk of deportation or being put in an unsafe situation.
It isn’t just a watered-down continuation of the Trump policies, either. Believe it or not, the Biden administration has even gone further on deportations than the previous administration on a number of issues.
For example, more Haitians were deported in Biden’s first two months than in Trump’s final year in office, operating under the Title 42 guidelines for Covid-19. However, Biden has since tried to offer some kind of temporary protected status for Haitians after receiving pushback for the ramping up of this controversial policy.
The good news is that there are things you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones from these policies.
How To Protect Yourself
If you or a loved one is likely to be crossing the US border in order to seek asylum, they may have some difficulty at the border. Having a visa to get into the US before seeking asylum can help, but it is more of a strategic question, as it is legal to seek asylum in a country without the right of entry.
What You Can Do
Believe it or not, you aren’t powerless in this situation. If you care about immigration, you can do something about it.
If you live in the country making the policies, you have some influence over them. Call your representatives, senators, and even the White House. Join some political groups if you would like to change these policies.
In the meantime, if you’re concerned with getting a family member into safety, that takes first priority. Legal representation for immigration or asylum seekers is crucial to get fast and effective help on your journey to safety.
Where To Go From Here
Now that we’ve seen the end of the “Remain in Mexico” policy, it’s important to remember that the fight for immigration reform is still far from over.
If you are looking to seek asylum for yourself or your loved ones, look over some of our most frequently asked questions about immigration so you can find out how to do it right!