Washington, United States
The government of The President of the United States, Joe Bidenwill seek to implement a “comprehensive and long-term” plan to address migration challenges in the Western Hemisphere, including its own system, Roberta Jacobson, the president’s special aide, said on Friday, admitting that the changes would not be effective. place “from night to day”.
“The administration of President Biden It is committed to (implementing) a fair, orderly and humane border procedure, but it will take some time for that to happen, “the southwestern border coordinator told the National Security Council during a news conference.
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According to the official, the pillars of this plan will be to reduce the causes that force people to migrate; expanding access to international protection (refuge and asylum); expands family reunification mechanisms and labor migration programs and protects national and border security.
“IT’S NOT TIME TO REACH THE BORDER”
Jacobson, that was US Ambassador to Mexico Between 2016 and 2018, he sent a message to migrants and families “who are now on their way to the United States or thinking about this trip: the situation at the border has not changed.”
“Now is not the time to get to United States bordersaid the official. Procedures will not change overnight and the journey is particularly dangerous now in the midst of a pandemic, “he added.
United States and Mexico They agreed to restrict non-essential ground travel in March last year to prevent the spread of coronavirus, a measure that has previously come into force on the Canadian border.
The decision, made by President Donald Trump’s last administration, remains in effect, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on January 20, the same day Biden arrived at the White House.
ASYLUM APPLICATIONS will be processed as soon as possible
Jacobson also referred to people who, thanks to the Migrants Protection Protocols (MPP) program, also known as “Stay in Mexico”, are waiting in the neighboring country for a response to their asylum application and indicated that they are plenty of resources for this challenge. “
On January 20, the Biden Administration announced that it would suspend registrations in that program beginning January 21, which allowed the Trump administration to return asylum seekers to the neighboring country.
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“The Department of Homeland Security does not register more people, more migrants in the program,” confirmed the counselor, who noted that he is considering how to process migrants who are already part of that initiative, especially those who have been waiting for years. and the “most vulnerable.”
And in a message to those who are registered, the southwestern border manager asked them to wait.
“You don’t get to the border now if you don’t live on the border,” he said, swearing that they would contact participants through non-governmental organizations and others and that they would be processed “in an orderly manner.”
NO PLANS FOR THE TRANSFER OF PEOPLE TO CENTRAL AMERICA
Consultation on Asylum Cooperation Agreements (ACAs) with Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, countries that make up the so-called North American Triangle and where most migrants seeking to arrive in the United States come from transfers are made through Mexico.
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Jacobson explained that transfers under the agreement with Guatemala – the only one he said had been updated – had been suspended since March due to the pandemic.
“The other two agreements, with El Salvador and Honduras, have not been implemented. There are currently no plans to transfer people under any of the three agreements,” he said.
IMMIGRATION REFORM, A DIFFERENT PROPOSAL
The ambassador also referred to the immigration reform that Biden presented to Congress on his first day in government and said it was more comprehensive and part of “understanding the legalization of people living in the shadows in the United States, 11 million or so.” more, “he said.
In this regard, he admitted that the process of this initiative in Congress “will be difficult”, but stressed that on both the Republican and the Democratic side, there are those who “understand very well that it is essential to change the situation of these people. ”And even pointed out that polls show that the majority of the American population is in favor of this project.