© Reuters. FROM FILE: Asylum seekers, mostly from Venezuela, rest in the shade of a tent erected by Mexican authorities near the border as they attempt to cross the border into the United States without an appointment, in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico on June 27, 2023. REUTERS/Daniel Besril/Fu File
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Written by Ted Hesson and Dave Graham
Four sources said that US and Mexican officials are discussing a new refugee program in the United States for some non-Mexican asylum seekers waiting in Mexico, as part of President Joe Biden’s attempts to find more legal avenues for immigration.
The sources said the program would likely be open to Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan and Venezuelan refugees in Mexico. One of the sources said the migrants would need to prove they were in Mexico before June 6 to qualify.
The sources – an American official, a Mexican official and two people familiar with the matter, who all spoke on condition of anonymity – confirmed that the issue is still under discussion and no final decisions have been made. It was not clear how many people would benefit from such a programme.
Hundreds of thousands of immigrants from those four countries have passed through Mexico on their way to the United States during the political and economic turmoil of recent years, straining resources in both countries and putting political pressure on Biden, a Democrat seeking re-election in 2024.
The sources said the plan under discussion would allow eligible immigrants who are approved for refugee status to enter through the US refugee resettlement program, which is only available to applicants abroad. Unlike most immigrants who seek asylum after entering the United States, refugees receive immediate work permits and government benefits such as housing and employment assistance.
Refugees using the US resettlement program can apply to become permanent residents within one year, which offers more stability than other options. To obtain consent, they must prove that they face persecution because of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.
Mexico’s Foreign Ministry said, in a statement, that it is in constant contact with the United States on expanding labor mobility and refugee protection. To this end, she said, she has held discussions on various programs and policies, always preserving national sovereignty.
The ministry added that Mexico had not reached any agreement with the United States.
broader immigrant strategy
The Biden administration has opened new ways for immigrants to enter the United States legally as part of a broader strategy to discourage people from illegally crossing the US-Mexico border.
Migrants waiting in Mexico can apply to enter the United States on a smartphone app and later claim asylum, but slots on the app are quickly filling up. Under another Biden program, Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans can request entry to the United States by air if they have American sponsors.
However, these routes do not provide the same benefits available to refugees or a direct path to permanent residence and eventual citizenship.
In April, the Biden administration said it aimed to accept 40,000 refugees from Latin America and the Caribbean in fiscal years 2023 and 2024, doubling the previous goal. As of May 31, it had reached about 3,400, which indicates that the pace will need to accelerate significantly to reach the target.
Some refugee backers worry that focusing on Latin America may slow processing from other parts of the world, including refugees already awaiting approval.
The sources said the initiative under discussion would be a “second priority” refugee program, similar to the one opened for Afghans in 2021. Such programs allow certain groups of people to apply for refugee status directly without the need for a UN referral.
The Mexican official said that despite the discussions, Mexico has major concerns.
If the program encourages more immigrants to enter Mexico, the official said, it could tax the country’s already stretched resources to deal with immigrants.
One important concern for Mexico, the official said, is where the migrants will be dealt with.
If the US used its existing consular facilities, the official added, the plan could work, but any new US post in Mexico for this purpose would be politically charged.
The official said pending decisions would also require the participation of New Mexico’s Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena, who has yet to be confirmed for the position.
