WASHINGTON, March 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States is expanding its programme to send asylum seekers back to Mexico to wait out their US court proceedings and so far has returned 240 people since starting the programme in January.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the policy, which was rolled out at the San Ysidro port of entry in San Diego earlier this year, has been expanded to the Calexico port, which is also in Southern California on the US-Mexico border.
In addition, migrants who attempt to cross illegally and then ask for asylum in the US border patrol’s San Diego sector will now also be subject to return to Mexico, DHS officials said.
Mexico’s foreign ministry issued a statement confirming the programme’s expansion to the Calexico port. Mexican officials have been in touch with US immigration authorities about the migrants returning to Mexico, the ministry said.
One official said border authorities had only started turning back people who crossed between ports this past week.
He said that “a very low number” of people who crossed illegally have been returned so far, while the vast majority of those who were sent back presented themselves at legal ports of entry to claim asylum.
The policy is the latest effort by the Trump administration to try to curb a sharp increase in the number of Central American families that are arriving at the border and claiming asylum.
President Donald Trump, whose administration has worked to limit both legal and illegal immigration, said in an interview with the website Breitbart published on Tuesday that Mexican drug cartels should be considered terrorist organisations.
He highlighted the danger of Mexican cities close to the US border and said Mexico is “considered one of the most unsafe countries in the world.”
DHS officials said the US government is working closely with Mexican authorities to clear the expansion plans. “We’re not going to open a location if the Mexicans aren’t ready and able to process and provide the humanitarian protections that they agreed to,” one official said.
DHS said the return policy does not apply to Mexican citizens, unaccompanied minors or people with serious medical conditions or disabilities, but families with children are being returned. — NNN-AGENCIES
