July- August Media Report

Secretary Mayorkas’s remarks in Brownsville, TX   

On August 12, Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro N. Mayorkas, delivered a speech addressing dire conditions at the border and the Biden Administration’s efforts to “build a fair, orderly, and humane immigration system.” The speech is far cry from any real humane reform and in turn signals a doubling down on expedited removals and expulsions, meanwhile upholding Title 42 indefinitely. The next day, the #WelcomeWithDignity Campaign released a joint-letter to the Biden Administration regarding Secretary Mayorkas’s remarks and plans to increase expulsion flights to southern Mexico and changes to asylum processing. Kino Border Initiative is one of the 102 signatory organizations. You can read the join-letter here.

Biden to extend Trump-era expulsion policy as ‘record numbers’ of migrants cross border 

On August 2, the Biden Administration announced the indefinite extension of the Trump-era pandemic policy known as Title 42. Under this public health policy, DHS allows for swift expulsion of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. The Biden Administration has also restarted “expedited removal” flights for some migrant families who can’t be expelled to Mexico.

The IRC completes participation in DHS’ exceptions process; renews call to end use of Title 42 to expel vulnerable people 

On July 30, the International Rescue Committee publicly announced that they are pulling out of the Consortium process due to the lack of transparency and frustration over when the Biden administration will end the Trump-era policy of Title 42. At the beginning of 2021, the Biden administration announced plans to coordinate with a handful of immigrant advocacy groups, including Kino Border Initiative, to identify vulnerable migrant families in Mexico and allow them to enter the US, instead of turning them away in a streamlined process. Till this day, Title 42 is still in effect. You can read our original press release in response to the consortium referral process here.