U.S. Admits First Group of Asylum-Seekers as Biden Rolls Back Remain-in-Mexico Policy

By Joshua Summers First Posted: Feb 21, 2021 12:49 AM EST

The U.S. admits the first group of asylum-seekers as Biden rolls back Remain-in-Mexico policy

(Photo : Mario Tama)
People who are seeking asylum in the United States wait in line to collect flyers explaining updated asylum policies outside the El Chaparral border crossing on February 19, 2021 in Tijuana, Mexico.

For many years, refugees seek help in the United States, waiting at the border to allow them to enter the country. Now, the light had been given when the United States border officials processed the first batch of asylum-seekers from San Ysidro port of entry in Southern California.

According to CBS News, the movement is a part of the current administration to wind down the Trump policy that kept tens and thousands of people from outside the United States territory. They add that the first group of migrants who were instructed to wait in Mexico for their immigration court hearings are composed of 25 Latin-American asylum seekers.

How were they catered?

MSN notes that a non-profit's chief executive officer, Michael Hopkins shared with them that the Jewish Family Service situated in San Diego received the asylum applicants required to test negative for the coronavirus and transported them to a nearby hotel in the area so that they can have their quarantine.

OLT News shares that the first batch of asylum seekers includes six families and five people from Honduras, Nicaragua, Cuba, Guatemala, and Peru. Lawyer Taylor Levy shared with OLT News the joy saying the day has been filled with hope as the public finally saw 25 people received dignity. Levy adds that it is a relief that at least for 25 people, there will be Justice and hope.

CBS News notes that the admission of the 25 asylum seekers in the state of California marks the start of the new process that the Biden administration established will aid the non-profits, international groups, and the United Nations refugee agency. This will slowly take migrants with pending remain-in-Mexico cases to stay with family and friends in the United States.

Migrant Protection Protocol (MPP)

Former President Trump's administration enacted the Migrant Protection Protocol, which led to more than 70,000 non-Mexican asylum seekers being sent back to Mexico to further wait for their court hearings in the United States. They add that many were returned to places in Northern Mexico where violence and crimes are rampant to wait for their court hearings while residing in squalid migrant tent camps.

OLT News shares that Human rights have documented 1,500 reports of kidnapping, assault, threats, rapes, and murder against migrants. Because of this, OLT news points out that the Department of Homeland and Security stopped placing asylum seekers in the MPP shortly after President Biden's inauguration, who strongly condemned the practice during his campaign.

CBS News mentions the statement of Department of Homeland and Security secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, saying that with that the day of the admission marks the first step to start safely, efficiently, and humanely processing eligible individuals from the border.

With the admission of the first batch of asylum seekers who waited in Mexico, people who have to stay in the hostile environment will gradually be lessened. Moreover, the people from the border will also hope that the process will be expedited in the reign of the new administration, putting their welfare into account.