US to Open Migrant Centers in Latin America, Expedite Deportations

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Facts

  • As the Title 42 COVID restrictions on immigration are set to expire next month, the US will establish regional processing centers for migrants in Colombia and Guatemala to reduce arrivals at the southern border.1
  • The first processing centers, set to open in the coming weeks, will be operated by international organizations partnering with the US. Migrants will "speak to specialists" to determine eligibility. If eligible, they may be given "parole programs, family reunification or existing labor pathways."2
  • Once Title 42 ends on May 11, deportations will return to the process under "Title 8," which carries with it harsher consequences such as potential criminal prosecution and barring people from reentry for at least five years.3
  • US Sec. of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said that "expedited removal will begin" on May 12 for those who cross the border "without having first taken the legal pathway to entry." These expulsions will also apply to families crossing the border.4
  • As the US worries it won't have the resources to deal with the expected 10K border arrivals per day after May 11, it will have to rely on cooperation from Mexico, which has agreed to continue taking back migrants from Venezuela, Cuba, Haiti, and Nicaragua.2
  • Spain and Canada will also accept referrals from the processing centers, with officials also announcing programs to allow certain US residents and citizens to apply for family members to be relocated to the US more quickly.4

Sources: 1Los Angeles Times, 2NBC, 3Spokesman, and 4Al Jazeera.

Narratives

  • Republican narrative, as provided by Townhall. This announcement doesn't show the Biden admin. turning a corner on immigration but rather an admission that the government will play the role of human smugger itself. The president's migrant phone app has already approved a shocking 99% of so-called asylum seekers so there is no reason to believe Biden will follow through with his promise to deport those who don't follow the rules.
  • Democratic narrative, as provided by DHS. Biden's Dept. of Homeland Security has actually removed over 200K individuals during last year alone, which is tens of thousands more than the previous year. The Biden admin. takes illegal immigration seriously and will continue to implement its tough but compassionate migrant programs as it always has.