The Biden admin. has quietly tasked 6 humanitarian groups with recommending which migrants should be allowed to stay in the US instead of being rapidly expelled from the country under federal pandemic-related powers that block people from seeking asylum.
Several members of the consortium spoke to The Associated Press about the criteria and provided details of the system that have not been previously reported. The government is aiming to admit to the country up to 250 asylum-seekers a day who are referred by the groups and is agreeing to that system only until July 31. By then, the consortium hopes the Biden administration will have lifted the public health rules, though the government has not committed to that.
Asylum Access, which provides services to people seeing asylum in Mexico, characterized its role as minimal.A similar but separate mechanism led by the American Civil Liberties Union began in late March and allows 35 families a day into the United States at places along the border. It has no end date.
Some consortium members are concerned that going public may cause their offices in Mexico to be mobbed by asylum-seekers, overwhelming their tiny staffs and exposing them to potential threats and physical attacks from extortionists and other criminals. Special consideration is being given to people who have been in Mexico a long time, are in need of acute medical attention or who have disabilities, are members of the LGBTQ community or are non-Spanish speakers, though each case is being weighed on its unique circumstances, Tamayo said.
“It has been murky,” said Jessica Bolter, an analyst at the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute who believes the administration is trying to quietly be humane without encouraging more people to come, a balancing act she doubts will succeed. Against that backdrop, some advocates are seeing the makings of the “humane” asylum system that Biden promised during his campaign. Details have been elusive, with administration officials saying they need time.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Biden pushes vaccination campaign as July 4 deadline nears'Getting the vaccine is not a partisan act,' Biden said. 'The science was done under Democratic and Republican administrations. Matter of fact, the first vaccines were authorized under a Republican president.'
Read more »
Offering free childcare and beer, Biden makes renewed push for July 4 vaccination goalJune will be a “national month of action,” President Biden said, with some pharmacies remaining open all night on Fridays to administer shots and childcare centers waiving fees for parents going for their vaccinations.
Read more »
Biden announces 'all-of-America sprint' to get more vaccinated by July Fourth'It's easier than ever to get vaccinated.' Pres. Biden outlines surfeit of options for people to get COVID-19 vaccinations, with extended hours for vaccination sites, free child care and free rides to and from vaccination sites.
Read more »
Biden administration faces uphill battle to meet its July 4 vaccination goalAn average of about 371,000 adults in the US received one dose of Covid-19 vaccine each day last week, according to CDC data. But closer to 564,000 adults would need to initiate vaccination each day to reach Biden's goal by July 4.
Read more »
The Queen will meet US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill BidenThe monarch, 95, will host the US President and First Lady Jill Biden at Windsor Castle on Sunday 13 June
Read more »
Biden announces 'National Month of Action' -- that could include free beer -- to get more Americans vaccinated by July 4President Joe Biden on Wednesday announced a 'National Month of Action' and outlined additional steps his administration is taking to get 70% of US adults at least one Covid-19 shot by July 4.
Read more »