The Biden administration is going to let more people apply online for spots to come into the United States in a big area of southern Mexico. This was announced on August 3. This could help the Mexican government and make it safer for folks trying to get to the US border to ask for asylum.
People will be able to book their spots on the CBP One app in Chiapas and Tabasco, which will cover a wider area in Mexico. This move is a win for Mexico, who has been working closely with the US to handle the huge number of people trying to cross the border.
The background to this change
In June, the US put a hold on processing asylum for people who sneak into the country, making CBP One the only way for migrants to get into the US to ask for asylum, which has made it even harder for people to sneak in. US officials said that the number of people caught trying to cross illegally fell by 30% in July compared to the month before, hitting the lowest point during Joe Biden’s time in office and the lowest since September 2020.
More than 680,000 people made appointments with CBP One at eight land crossings between Mexico and the US since it started in January 2023. The most common nationalities are from Venezuela, Cuba, and Haiti. US officials had earlier cut down on spots for Mexicans because so many people from Mexico are trying to get in.
Travelling through Mexico
The dangers of travelling through Mexico to avoid being kidnapped or robbed have made a lot of migrants fly to northern border cities like Tijuana to get their CBP One appointments once they get to the southernmost point they can from where they started (Mexico).
Most people get into Mexico from Chiapas or Tabasco in Guatemala. Mexico might have more chances for jobs and be safer, but the cost of living is also higher, which is why some people end up living in makeshift camps in the capital.
The Mexican-US relationship
Moving forward, the US government have been able to ease the pressure on its northern border a lot, and that really helped the Mexican government’s relationship with the US become super positive and very strong.
The Mexican efforts
US officials have mentioned that the big increase in Mexican efforts is the main reason for the huge drop in people caught trying to cross the border illegally in the first half of this year. Mexican officials have been more active at highway checkpoints and on the trains going to the US border, sending most people back to southern Mexico.
The role of collaboration
This change means migrants won’t have to make the long trip north through Mexico to snag one of the 1,450 spots available every day. The US government didn’t say when this would start, however, they have promised to keep talking to partners in Mexico and adjust policies and how things are done based on what is happening with migration and security.
This promise backs up what Mexico’s Foreign Affairs Secretary Alicia Bárcena said a day before, saying that getting closer with the US has really cut down on the number of people trying to cross the border illegally.
To stay updated and informed, keep an eye out for our news section or drop your immigration queries for professional attorneys to reply on immigrationquestions.com
