WASHINGTON – The United States and Mexico issued a joint statement on the ongoing migration crisis on Thursday that offered harsh words and support for asylum seekers, but said there would be no enforcement action to stop the record-breaking wave of illegal immigration – even teasing the prospect of amnesty for those who already here illegally.
Officials claimed a three-hour Mexico City meeting involving Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador was a success – but Thursday’s statement said no measures were agreed to slow or stem the flood of asylum seekers.
“President López Obrador emphasized President Biden’s commitment to continue orderly, orderly and safe migration. He emphasized the need to continue diplomatic and political engagement with all countries in the region, as well as invest in ambitious development programs throughout the American hemisphere,” the statement said.
“Both delegations outlined the efforts being made by the Biden administration through development aid and humanitarian aid, as well as promoting new private investment in the region,” he added.
The communiqué went on to describe existing programs and policy debates without announcing any new initiatives — instead saying that “[t]the two delegations agreed to meet again in Washington in January 2024 to further advance our strong partnership on migration management.”
A Border Patrol officer orders migrants to transport a van on Christmas Eve near Lukeville, Ariz.REUTERS Many migrants who crossed the border illegally are allowed to await asylum decisions in the US.
A three-year surge in illegal crossings, which critics attribute to a Biden policy, hit an all-time high of nearly 270,000 apprehensions in September alone and a daily record of more than 10,000 this month— as a single-party caravan of about 8,000 migrants traveled north through Mexico.
“Both countries reaffirm their existing commitment to fostering orderly, humane, and regular migration,” the joint statement said, pledging to strengthen “our partnership to address the root causes of migration, such as poverty, inequality, the decline of democracy, and violence.” , and for the initiative of both countries for the people of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela.
“Continued cooperation also includes enhanced efforts to disrupt human smuggling, trafficking and criminal networks, and continued work to promote legal rather than irregular migration routes. In addition, both delegations agreed on the importance of maintaining and facilitating important two-way trade on our shared border.”
The statement also said US and Mexican officials “discussed the benefits of regularizing the situation of long-term undocumented Hispanic immigrants and DACA recipients, who are an important part of the US economy and society” – suggesting the Biden administration may take other steps to try. to legislate a pathway to citizenship for adult undocumented immigrants and those brought to the US as children.
Thousands of migrants are marching north through Mexico toward the US border on record-setting daily arrests. Juan Manuel Blanco/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock The Biden administration has teased possible Mexican action to inspect railroads for migrants, but no new action has been announced. Reuters
Critics ripped the administration for its lack of progress.
“At a time when America is experiencing the worst border crisis in our nation’s history, it is inappropriate to hear the Biden Administration’s announcement that Secretaries Mayorkas and Blinken are discussing with the President of Mexico an amnesty for illegal immigrants,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said. in a statement.
“The United States must focus on policies that deter — not attract — people who try to come here illegally, and smugglers who profit from the havoc at our borders,” Johnson added. “This development further demonstrates that the Administration has no real intention to resolve the immediate humanitarian disaster and national security crisis created by their policies. President Biden needs to stop taking vacations and take immediate steps to stop the flow of illegal immigrants into our country.”
“Continue the effort?” Fox News border reporter Bill Melugin writes at X.
Migrants continue to walk in large caravans trying to reach the US. border in Escuintla, Mexico, on Thursday. REUTERS Migrants are waiting for an opportunity to cross the border in several areas along the southern border. Getty Images
“What business? Mexico is enabling chaos at the border by mass issuing humanitarian visas to migrants that allow them to travel through [Mexico] straight to the US border…then they throw visas on the ground when they cross illegally.”
Biden administration officials and the Mexican president, however, posted upbeat summaries of the meeting on social media as Republicans ripped the US envoy for not pushing for a tougher deal.
López Obrador posted on X that “an important agreement has been reached for the benefit of our people and our country” – without giving any details.
Blink write“As we made clear in Mexico City today, we are committed to working with Mexico to address our shared challenges, including managing unprecedented irregular migration in the region, reopening key gateways and combating illicit fentanyl and synthetic drugs other,”
Mexican President Andres Manuel López Obrador meets with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, center-right, and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, center-left. REUTERS/Raquel Cunha
Mayorkas add: “We had a very productive meeting with the President [López Obrador] and members of his Cabinet today in Mexico City. Regional migration challenges require regional solutions, and we appreciate Mexico’s commitment to continue its efforts with us and with others,”
Richard Grenell, former US ambassador to Germany and acting director of national intelligence under former President Donald Trump, questioned the ambiguity of the statement.
“What was achieved? (Hello? DC reporter?),” Grenell tweeted.
Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.) suggested that the discussion was simply about the optics of an election year, write“Biden is finally feeling the pressure because of the 2024 election — not because of the tens of thousands of lives destroyed by fentanyl, trafficking and migrant crime.”
Former Rep. Mayra Flores (R-Texas), the first Mexican-born woman in Congress, wrote on X in response to Mayorkas that the spike in illegal crossings is “planned.”
Immigrants along the border were forced to wear foil blankets for warmth as Border Patrol struggled to manage the surge. Go Nakamura for the NY Post
Flores, who is running for Congress again in 2024, as well tweeted: “There have been over 700,000 encounters of illegal immigrants at the southern border since October. December is on pace to set the highest month ever recorded. What needs to happen for the Biden administration to secure our Border?”
Meanwhile, other Biden administration officials described the meeting in Mexico City as a success, with a National Security Council spokesman saying Blinken and Mayorkas had enjoyed a “productive trip.”
“President López Obrador has taken significant new enforcement actions but we have much more work to do together,” the representative added.
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“President Biden’s cabinet will meet again with Mexican leaders in DC in January to assess progress and decide what more can be done. We continue to address the root causes and build legal pathways that incentivize orderly migration and our law enforcement.”
The NSC also did not specify any new enforcement actions taken by Mexico, but may refer to the Obrador government which said last week that it had flown migrants from northern Mexico to southern Mexico to be deported to their countries of origin.
It is not clear how many people were transported.
Polls show that border policy is an electoral liability for Biden, who is expected to face a rematch against former President Donald Trump, who routinely boasts that he is forcing Mexican leaders to improve border security by threatening tariffs.
A Harvard CAPS-Harris poll released Dec. 18 showed that 38% of registered voters approve of Biden’s handling of immigration — down eight points from 46% in November.
López Obrador previously praised Biden for triggering the border crisis, saying in 2021, “They see [Biden] as an immigrant president, and many felt they would make it to the United States.”
On his first day as president, Biden stopped Trump’s construction of the US-Mexico border wall. In June 2021, Biden rescinded Trump’s “Stay in Mexico” policy that required most asylum seekers who reach the southern border to wait for a decision on their cases south of the Rio Grande.
Nearly 2.5 million people were detained after illegally crossing the US-Mexico border in fiscal 2023, which ended on September 30, in addition to an estimated 670,000 “tourists” who evaded authorities.
There were nearly 2.4 million arrests in fiscal 2022, following a record-breaking 1.7 million in fiscal 2021.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has praised President Biden for inspiring the border crisis. SASHENKA GUTIERREZ/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Blinken described the meeting as a success despite no clear policy achievements. AFP via Getty Images
Many people who cross the border illegally are allowed into the US to await a court decision on their alleged persecution.
After an initial interval, asylum seekers are entitled to a work permit as their claims move through a heavily backlogged review system.
The illegal immigration numbers of the Biden era are far higher than the previous annual number of illegal crossings.
For example, in President Barack Obama’s last full year in office in fiscal 2016, there were 408,870 people arrested for illegally crossing the southern border.
Obama angered immigration activists by routinely turning away people crossing illegally — earning him the title of “deporter-in-chief.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
