VP Kamala Harris Reveals Plan to Address Illegal Crossing Amid Border Crisis at the U.S.-Mexico Border

Vice President Kamala Harris has revealed her strategy to address the root causes of illegal crossing amid the border crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border.

The Root Causes strategy aims to establish a fair, orderly, and humane immigration system while acting to improve security, human rights, and economic condition in the region, according to a White House press release.

The strategy has also noted that the ongoing pandemic and weather conditions have worsened the root causes of migration, such as corruption, violence, trafficking, and poverty.

The plan has five major cores. However, it does not specify a detailed timeline or policy actions to be taken.

Addressing Illegal Crossings at The Border

The strategy includes fighting corruption, promoting respect for human rights, and addressing economic insecurity and inequality, according to a CNBC report.

Harris' plan also includes preventing violence and other crimes done by criminal organizations. The plan also stated that they will be fighting sexual, gender-based, and domestic violence.

Harris said that they will build on what works and they will steer away from what does not. She added that executing the plan will not be easy and instantaneous.

The White House also released a Collaborative Migration Management Strategy. This was ordered by U.S. President Joe Biden ordered in February to highlight how U.S. will address migration flows.

The plan also highlighted Harris' accomplishment on the matter. It included providing urgent relief to help address factors of migration and providing over 10 million COVID vaccines to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.

Border Crisis

U.S. authorities had recorded large numbers of arrivals at the Mexican border in June. The trend seemed to be continuing in July, with high temperatures often deterring people from coming, according to an ABC News report.

Approximately 509 migrants from Central and South America had turned themselves in Hidalgo, Texas after another group of 336 migrants were found nearby.

The Department of Homeland Security said that it would continue fast-tracking deportations for some families that do not express fear of being returned home.

Federal border officials said that some areas are now so overwhelmed that they are unable to process the migrants, according to a New York Post report.

Officials are instead simply releasing them with a notice to report to the nearest Immigrations and Customs Enforcement office and request an asylum hearing.

Around 90 percent of the more than 50,000 migrants released between March and July have failed to report to ICE, with a huge number of migrants never winning their asylum cases.

Since March, border facilities have been overcrowded with more than 14,000 minors still in federal custody.

The White House has continued to implement international travel restrictions due to the ongoing pandemic.

However, those who cross the border illegally are allowed to bypass all COVID restrictions and was being released into the country. Migrants are being released into the country, often without being tested.

Migrants who tested positive are being released and even housed in South Texas hotels by charity groups in some cases. This was, however, done without the knowledge of local authorities.

This article is owned by Latin Post

Written by: Mary Webber

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