The immigration policy of the Biden administration has been one of the most controversial points on its domestic agenda, especially among the authorities of border states and cities that demand reforms to improve the system that has caused an unprecedented crisis in US history. .
This theme also had its moment at the 90th winter plenary of the US Conference of Mayors, in which The Latin Time was present. Leaders from cities such as Los Angeles and San Diego (California) and Mesa and Tucson (Arizona) met to discuss current immigration issues and hear interventions from representatives of the federal government.
Because it is important?
The US Conference of Mayors is a forum where local leaders can share ideas and information, but also organize to achieve common goals. These include ensuring that federal policies align with the needs of their cities, a goal that becomes more complex when it comes to border cities.
- More than 173,000 arrests were recorded at the US-Mexico southern border in November 2021, an increase of more than 5% from the previous month. It is the first increase since July, according to CBP data.
- In December, the governor of Arizona, Doug Doucey, denounced in a press conference a “growing humanitarian and border crisis” due to the disorganized re-implementation of the Remain in Mexico policy. “It is clear that the Biden administration has created a December Disaster on our border,” he declared.
Who participated along with the mayors?
- Chris Magnus, Commissioner of the Office of Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
- Esteban Moctezuma Barragán, Ambassador of Mexico to the United States
- Jen Smyers, Chief of Staff, Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)
What did they say?
- Magnus focused his speech on highlighting the pending challenges of the Biden administration following its first year on immigration. He added that his agency is taking precautions to avoid repeating episodes like the crisis at the camp in Del Río, Texas.
- Ambassador Barragán highlighted that the role of Mexico in the last year has gone from being a transit country to a host country for the 35% of immigrants who do not manage to enter the United States. He added the need to focus “not only on the trees, if not in the forest” when formulating plans to address the causes of migration from Central America.
- For his part, Smyers offered a balance of the reunification work that the Department of Health and Human Services has done: 90% of the minors who have been in the custody of the agency have been beneficiaries of reunification services during the last fiscal year.