Supreme Court Junks Donald Trump's Controversial Remain in Mexico Policy

The Biden administration has scored a huge victory as the Supreme Court certified its ruling that will allow the government to end the controversial Trump-era rule called the "Remain in Mexico" policy.

The administration tried to end the policy, but a lower court decision forced it to be reinstated last December. However, this new Supreme Court decision overrules that lower court decision, which means the Biden administration can end it anytime.

The Associated Press reported that the White House has still not revealed when or how they will dismantle the policy.

U.S. and Mexico Officials Declined to Comment on Supreme Court Victory

However, it may not be that easy for the government to end the controversial policy. Shortly after the Supreme Court victory, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas released a statement saying that the Supreme Court justices still need to communicate their decision to the lower court.

That should lift that court's order to reinstate the policy, which was upheld after the state of Texas filed a lawsuit to keep the policy going.

The administration did not say anything else other than Mayorkas' statement. It is still unknown when those forced to stay in Mexico while seeking asylum in the United States can be allowed back to the country as their cases play out.

From Mayorkas' statement, the Biden administration is still waiting for a judge who reinstated the rule, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, to lift it. Kacsmaryk is a judge in Amarillo, Texas, and a Trump appointee.

However, as the Biden administration waited on the judge to reverse his judgment, rights activists started voicing their frustrations. Judy Rabinovitz, deputy director of the ACLU Immigrants' Rights Project, said the administration's hands are no longer tied and must immediately act and make good on their promise to scrap the rule.

Politico reported that the government's silence on the Supreme Court ruling had caused more tension between the president and immigration rights activists who continue to press the president to uphold his campaign promise to end the policy.

What is the Remain in Mexico Policy?

The policy is officially known as "Migrant Protection Protocols," or MPP. Former President Donald Trump introduced it in January 2019 before President Joe Biden suspended it on his first day in office.

However, the state of Texas filed a lawsuit that it should continue, and a Texas judge ruled that it must be reinstated. This forced Biden to reinstate the policy until the Supreme Court decided last month that the administration had the power to end it. The Supreme Court then certified its decision last Monday.

The controversial policy forced migrants who wanted to seek political asylum in the United States to stay in Mexico as they waited for their cases to be heard. However, these migrants were forced into often-squalid conditions while in Mexico and are vulnerable to crime.

According to the Business Standard, around 70,000 migrants were subject to the policy when Trump first introduced it. When it was reinstated in December, nearly 5,800 people were affected. The largest number is Nicaraguans trying to flee their country's political unrest. Others include people from Cuba, Colombia, and Venezuela.

A sign outside the Salvation Army migrant shelter in Tijuana reads, "Wait for official information! The Remain in Mexico (MPP) program remains in effect. The United States government will inform you of any changes."

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

Watch: The Reality of Biden Reversing Trump's 'Remain in Mexico' Policy - From Vice News