Hundreds of Immigrants Must Wait in Mexico to Apply for Asylum
The Migrant Protection Protocol
In January 2019, the US government, in an agreement with the Mexican government, decided to implement the Migrant Protection Protocol (MPP).
This immigration policy is also known as “Remain in Mexico”. Broadly speaking, the MPP requires asylum seekers to stay in Mexico until they receive an official response for their immigration cases or until they have a hearing with a local judge.
President Trump assures that this policy greatly benefits the US for multiple reasons.
Let’s see some of them:
- Prevent immigration detention centers from becoming even more overcrowded than they already are.
- It prevents undocumented immigrants from using public benefits that should be available only for the local population.
- Protect legal jobs as many undocumented immigrants choose to work clandestinely while waiting for an official response to their immigration requests.
This policy has been in effect for over a year. However, the asylum seekers who must wait in Mexico do not always live in the best conditions and due to the global health crisis we are going through, the situation is increasingly risky for them.
If you have an active immigration case or need to submit a new application, please feel free to contact Motion Law Immigration’s expert attorneys.
The arrival of the pandemic and the MPP
The reality of most asylum seekers is that they are asking the US for international protection because they try to flee the persecution, danger, or threat of their countries.
Therefore, they normally arrive to the US without personal belongings and with the “Remain in Mexico” policy, they currently live in rustic temporary shelters that they have built themselves, surrounding communities, or immigrant rights advocates.
Besides that:
- They do not always have access to soap or bathrooms in adequate conditions.
- There is no social distancing, which increases the risk of a massive outbreak of Coronavirus.
- They have no food, medical or health supplies.
Thus, the situation has worsened in recent months because since they currently cannot enter the United States, these shelters are increasingly crowded.
That is the case of Reynosa, a city in Mexico, where approximately 100 asylum seekers currently live in a temporary shelter called Senda de Vida.
Other than that, official figures show that there are roughly 500 to 550 immigrants waiting in this city for the opportunity to have a legal hearing with a judge from the US.
Therefore, more and more immigrants are arriving to Mexico everyday, which in fact is currently going through the peak of contagion of Coronavirus in its territory, which worsens the situation for asylum seekers.
Do you need help for your immigration case?
Due to the fact that we are going through a period of global crisis, it is best to be cautious and seek specialized help when submitting an immigration application in the US.
Whether you need help with an asylum application, a deportation case, an immigration appeal, or any other case, it is best to avoid precarious situations for you and your family and seek the help of experts that can guide you through your immigration process.
If you have any questions about an immigration issue or relating to a case you may have currently in progress, then please don’t hesitate to contact us for a FREE Phone Consultation with one of our expert immigration attorneys.
Simply call Motion Law today at: (202) 918-1799.