Biden to restart Trump-era border policy

President Joe Biden suspended the Migrant Protection Protocols, commonly referred to as the “Remain in Mexico” policy, on his first day in office. He called the Trump administration policy inhumane after immigration advocates reported that migrants endured violence and delays while waiting in Mexican cities. In August, a U.S. District Court in Texas ordered the administration to reinstate the policy as border states grappled with surges in illegal immigration. The Department of Homeland Security expects to do so in mid-November, pending negotiations with the Mexican government. Mexico wants assurances that the United States will process cases within six months, provide accurate communication to asylum-seekers, and give clear access to legal counsel.

What does the policy do? The policy sent roughly 70,000 asylum-seekers to wait in Mexico while their cases were processed. The administration said Remain in Mexico will only apply to asylum-seekers who do not qualify for expulsion under Title 42, a health policy that allows for the immediate deportation of immigrants without proper documentation at the border during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dig deeper: Read Esther Eaton’s report in The Stew about Biden’s softer deportation guidelines.