The Washington Times is reporting that Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is seeking to cancel the Trump-era “Remain in Mexico” border policy.
The article reports:
The move comes even as Mr. Mayorkas is trying to restart the program under a federal judge’s injunction.
In a lengthy memo, the Department of Homeland Security said the U.S. cannot assure the safety of people it pushes back across the border under the policy, officially known as the Migrant Protection Protocols, and the government doesn’t want to spend the money needed to improve conditions in Mexico.
I realize that there is a humanitarian element to this, but we are not responsible for the people that are ‘pushed’ back across the border. That is like saying that if someone breaks into your house and you manage to get them out of your house you are responsible for their safety on the street. No. These people are breaking the law and coming into our country illegally. We owe them nothing except possibly a trip home. President Trump had the right idea in trying to help improve conditions in the countries the migrants are coming from. Until the corruption and lawlessness in these countries is dealt with, there is no point in sending the countries financial aid–it will only add to the corruption and lawlessness. However, if we can put strings on any financial assistance, we may actually be able to help some of the poorer countries in South America and Central America. Meanwhile, we simply do not have the resources to support the entire western hemisphere.
The article concludes:
But immigrant-rights groups said some legitimate asylum-seekers were pushed back and faced kidnappings, robberies and other abuse while waiting in Mexico.
The Biden administration had halted MPP (Migrant Protection Protocols) early in its tenure, and Mr. Mayorkas issued a memo in the spring attempting to cancel it altogether. But a federal judge in Texas ruled he cut too many corners.
In particular, the judge said Homeland Security in the Trump years had conducted a review of the program and found it to be a critical border tool. Canceling the program required more than Mr. Mayorkas‘ cursory dismissal of those findings, the judge said.
The judge ordered the program restarted, and the Biden team says it is negotiating with Mexico to do that — even as it works to undermine the program legally.
The new memo canceling the program runs to 39 pages of justification, arguing MPP is a misuse of resources at a time when the Biden team is trying to erase most of the Trump immigration legacy.
Mr. Mayorkas has promised a new system that he said will erase the incentives for illegal immigration while protecting legitimate asylum cases.
The thing to keep in mind is that there is a difference between legitimate asylum and economic migration. Economic migrants need to work to find a way to improve conditions in their home countries. I realize that in many of these countries, corruption and lawlessness are a problem, but until someone stands up to the problem, it will continue to exist.