Former President Trump praised the success of the “Remain in Mexico” policy during the CNN Presidential Debate, a controversial border program that he implemented to reduce immigration numbers. Trump criticized President Biden for ending the policy and highlighted his efforts to negotiate with Mexico and implement measures like “catch and release” in Mexico rather than in the U.S. The program involved setting up tent courts in Mexico where migrants could apply for asylum and wait for their claims to be heard, instead of being released into the U.S. Critics of the program, including the Biden administration, argued that it left migrants in dangerous conditions in Mexico and was ineffective at curbing illegal immigration.
After coming into office, the Biden administration ended the “Remain in Mexico” program and introduced its own measures to regulate immigration and alleviate the pressure at the southern border. The administration expanded the CBP One app, allowing migrants to enter legally and schedule appointments to be paroled into the U.S. This change has allowed approximately 1,500 migrants per day to enter the country legally. Additionally, the administration has cooperated with Mexico to accept tens of thousands of illegal immigrants back each month and counter human smuggling efforts.
Despite the Biden administration’s efforts, there are still reports of significant backlogs at the border, leading advocacy groups to criticize the administration’s handling of asylum seekers. Some argue that the CBP One app creates technological barriers and limits the number of appointments, potentially putting asylum seekers at risk if they are unable to secure an appointment. Amnesty International has raised concerns about the app turning the legal right to asylum into a lottery system based on chance and potentially excluding asylum seekers from protection in the United States.
As the debate over immigration policies continues, there are conflicting views on whether a return to the “Remain in Mexico” policy would be beneficial. Some argue that allowing more migrants into the U.S. creates more demand and exacerbates the backlog, while others believe that the key to addressing the issue lies in addressing the pull factors that attract migrants to the border. However, any attempt to reinstate the program would face challenges in securing cooperation from Mexico, as the Mexican government has stated that they will not cooperate with reintroducing the MPP. The ongoing crisis at the border remains a top priority for both the Biden administration and conservatives, with differing opinions on the most effective approach to manage illegal immigration.
