The Biden administration said it anticipates “being in a position” to reimplement the Trump administration’s “Remain in Mexico” policy in November.
The policy requires asylum seekers to remain in Mexico while they are waiting for hearings in the United States.
The Department of Homeland Security noted in a statement the agency issued a memo in June, terminating the policy. The department then pointed out a district court in Texas “vacated the termination memo and issued an injunction that requires DHS to work in good faith to re-start MPP. DHS appealed the injunction.”
The agency said it “disagrees with the court’s ruling. However, as part of our compliance, DHS filed a status report Thursday outlining the steps it has taken to follow the law and abide by the court’s order.”
DHS disagrees with the court’s ruling. However, as part of our compliance, DHS filed a status report Thursday outlining the steps it has taken to follow the law and abide by the court’s order.
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) October 15, 2021
The statement continued, “Mexico is a sovereign nation that must make an independent decision to accept the return of individuals pursuant to any reimplementation of MPP. That decision has not been made. Discussions with the Government of Mexico are ongoing.”
The agency will be “issuing a memo terminating MPP in which it will address concerns about the prior memo that sought to terminate MPP. This new memo terminating MPP will not, however, take effect until the current injunction is lifted.”
Separately, as announced previously, DHS also will be issuing a memo terminating MPP in which it will address concerns about the prior memo that sought to terminate MPP. This new memo terminating MPP will not, however, take effect until the current injunction is lifted.
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) October 15, 2021
In a late-night court filing issued Thursday, the department said it has “made substantial progress toward the re-implementation of MPP,” adding, “As a result of this progress, DHS anticipates being in a position to re-implement MPP by mid-November – dependent on decisions made by Mexico.”
The filing mentioned the changes Mexico would like to see before the policy is re-implemented, including “an assurance that cases are generally adjudicated within six months of enrollment and that individuals awaiting court hearings in Mexico receive timely and accurate information about hearing dates and times.”
Additionally, Mexico would like to see “improved access to counsel, protections against the return of particularly vulnerable populations to Mexico, and better coordination with Mexico concerning the locations and times of day that individuals are returned to Mexico.”
The department will reportedly speak with Mexico about the concerns in the coming days.
New: In a late night court filing, @DHSgov says it "anticipates being in a position to re-implement [Remain in Mexico] by mid-November—dependent on decisions made by Mexico."
— Suzanne Monyak (@SuzanneMonyak) October 15, 2021
DHS also says Mexico has demanded improve access to counsel and other changes to the Trump-era program pic.twitter.com/IGdL00xWVf
Biden spoke out against the Trump-era policy in March of 2020. He tweeted, “Donald Trump’s ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy is dangerous, inhumane, and goes against everything we stand for as a nation of immigrants. My administration will end it.”
Donald Trump's "Remain in Mexico" policy is dangerous, inhumane, and goes against everything we stand for as a nation of immigrants. My administration will end it. https://t.co/toYzMaPP1Y
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) March 12, 2020
In August, the Supreme Court rejected the Biden administration’s effort to block the ruling made by the Texas judge requiring the government to re-implement the policy. The administration suspended the policy on inauguration day.