July – August Media Report

Biden administration ends Trump-era ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy

After his authority to end the policy was affirmed by the Supreme Court, President Biden formally moved to end Remain in Mexico. We welcome the end of this cruel policy. During the policy’s years-long tenure, human rights groups documented numerous abuses suffered by people forced to wait under the protocol. Let us hope that neither this nor any other similar program will again attack the dignity of people on the move and their search for protection.

Biden and Mexican President Lopez Obrador discuss migration during White House meeting

As Joe Biden met with President Lopez Obrador, we joined 83 other organizations in demanding that the meeting focus on the human rights of migrants and refugees that are being neglected. We continue to urge both administrations to expand legal pathways for just and workable migration. In particular, we call on these leaders to strengthen bilateral efforts to restore access to asylum, expand access to protection and security for migrants in Mexico, and make every effort to preserve people’s right not to migrate by tackling issues such as climate change.

Florence Project and Kino Border Initiative Welcome the Passage of a Clean Inflation Reduction Act

The Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project and the Kino Border Initiative celebrated the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 in the United States Senate without any dangerous and harmful anti-immigrant amendments attached. We called on Senators to commit to voting NO on all poison pill amendments, and we thank Congressional champions and allies who did just that.

CBP is Expelling Thousands of Infants and Toddlers to Mexico After Midnight

A recent report showed that CBP has used Title 42 as rationale for expelling 30,806 children under the age of 3. While this in and of itself is a denial of migrants’ rights to due process, the report notes that 41% of these expulsions have occurred at midnight or later. This is despite the fact that CPB’s repatriation agreement with the Mexican government stipulates that no deportations should occur between the hours of 10pm and 5am. Dumping very young children into dangerous territory in the middle of the night is unconscionable, and the results have been dire for many children. We call on the Biden Administration and the Mexican government to hold CBP accountable for these violations of international agreements and craven disregard for migrant children’s safety.