Arizona Governor concerned about Biden’s actions on immigration

It is well known that one of the main proposals of the Biden administration is to lift restrictions implemented by the Trump administration on the immigration system. The current president of the US plans to initially rescind strict immigration policies in order to expand alternatives available to foreigners and improve conditions for the most vulnerable immigrant populations.

Naturally, these changes in immigration policies have also caught the attention of members of the government, opposition groups, and American citizens who prefer immigration to be controlled and limited to safeguard local resources and ensure a good quality of life in the US.

For instance, on Wednesday, February 17, 2021, Arizona Governor, Douglas Ducey, sent a letter to Alejandro Mayorkas, who is currently leading the DHS (Department of Homeland Security), openly expressing his concern about the Biden administration’s decision to suspend the MPP (Migrant Protection Protocol) and allow the entry of thousands of asylum seekers who currently live in Mexican territory under this policy.

To understand the issue at hand, it is important to clarify that the MPP policy, also known as “Remain in Mexico,” was implemented by the Trump administration in early 2019 and states that asylum seekers can no longer enter the US before their applications are resolved, but must wait in Mexico until they receive a response to their requests.

This policy has led thousands of asylum seekers to remain in Mexican cities, often in dangerous territories, where they live in temporary shelters or foundations amid the health crisis caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Arizona Governor’s questions

President Biden, as promised during his political campaign, suspended new enrollment in the MPP program and on Friday, February 12, presented a plan to allow the entry of asylum seekers who currently reside in Mexico under this policy.

The Biden administration stated that beginning Friday, February 19, there will be two or three authorized ports of entry that will process up to 300 political asylum cases on a daily basis. According to the current administration, the project will initially allow the entry of approximately 25,000 asylum seekers with active cases.

For more details: The Biden Administration Proposes Asylee Resettlement Plan

In the letter sent to DHS, Governor Ducey asks several questions related primarily to:

• Facilities to resettle asylum seekers.
• Funds to assist asylum seekers.
• Funds for local organizations, which receive and assist asylum seekers entering the US, who do not have basic resources to survive.
• Transportation of asylum seekers from the borders to the interior of the country.
• Follow-up program to make sure asylum seekers attend their scheduled hearings in immigration courts.
• The process to follow with asylum seekers who have a criminal record or pending legal charges.
• Protocols to prevent another massive COVID-19 outbreak and protect the health of both American citizens and immigrant populations.

Thus, the Biden administration has yet to explain how the asylum seeker entry program will work and what the role of local governments and humanitarian organizations will be.

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