Immigration
Large migrant caravan heading to US, calling on Biden admin to ‘honor its commitments’
A new migrant caravan is forming in Central America with hopes of reaching the United States to a welcoming Biden administration. As many as 9,000 immigrants appear to be in processions moving towards America—with at least 1,000 illegally entering Guatemala Friday, according to the AP.
Migrant rights group Pueblo Sin Fronteras issued a statement on the caravan, calling for the Biden team to give the migrants a warm reception.
“We recognize the importance of the incoming Government of the United States having shown a strong commitment to migrants and asylum seekers, which presents an opportunity for the governments of Mexico and Central America to develop policies and a migration management that respect and promote the human rights of the population in mobility,” the statement said.
The group also said “We will advocate that the Biden government honors its commitments,” as reported by Fox News.
The group further advocated immigration reform, including getting rid of laws that require migrants to stay in Mexico while they await hearings.
“A new United States Government is an opportunity to work with the Mexican Government to develop a cooperation plan with Central America to address the causes of migration, together with civil society organizations, as well as an opportunity to increase regional cooperation regarding the persons in need of protection, and to dismantle illegal and inhuman programs such as Remain in Mexico, the United States’ Asylum Cooperation Agreements with El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, as well as the Title 42 expulsions by the United States authorities,” the group said.
Biden has promised to work towards citizenship for illegal immigrants and reversing many Trump administration policies—including a moratorium on ICE deportations, as reported by Fox News.
Fox also reported that Biden officials may not be as welcoming to the illegal group, as incoming policy advisor Susan Rice said the border “will not” be fully open on Day 1.
“Processing capacity at the border is not like a light that you can just switch on and off,” Rice said to Spanish news site EFE. “Migrants and asylum seekers absolutely should not believe those in the region peddling the idea that the border will suddenly be fully open to process everyone on Day 1. It will not.”
As the growing group of migrants near the US border, the incoming Biden administration will face a real test on its immigration policy in the very early days of its time in office.
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Despite chaos at the border, the Biden administration is still pursuing expansion of a smart phone app which would allow nearly 40,000 asylum-seekers to enter the United States…per month.
“Starting in June, officials will allow more migrants waiting in Mexico to secure an appointment to enter the U.S. through a government phone app known as CBP One, which the Biden administration has transformed into the main gateway to the American asylum system” reports CBS News.
Department of Homeland Security Officials said border agents are preparing to distribute approximately 1,250 appointments per day, or 38,750 per month, to migrants in Mexico. They will then present themselves at ports of entry.
CBS News reports:
The CBP One app allows migrants north of Mexico City to request an appointment to appear at a southern border port of entry, where U.S. officials generally release them with an immigration court hearing in their respective destination. Migrants can fight their deportation in court by seeking asylum.
The app-powered system has been sharply criticized by migrant advocates, who say it penalizes the most destitute migrants who don’t have smartphones or an internet connection. They have also said the app does not allocate nearly enough spots to help the tens of thousands of migrants stranded in Mexico.
However, the app has facilitated “the largest expansion of migrant processing at ports of entry along the southern border in U.S. history” adds CBS News. “Since its use began in January, more than 120,000 migrants have secured appointments to enter the U.S. through CBP One, according to unpublished government figures.”
In addition to the CBP One process and the asylum restriction, the Biden Administration has begun allowing up to 30,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela to fly to the U.S. directly per month if they have American sponsors. In just several months, that program received over 1.5 million applications.
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