New US-Mexico Immigration Policies

May 4, 2023

The US and Mexico have agreed on a five-point plan to deter illegal border crossings while also opening up other pathways for migrants. Homeland Security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall met with Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and other top officials, emerging with a plan that includes Mexico continuing to accept migrants from Venezuela, Haiti, Cuba, and Nicaragua who are turned away at the border. In addition, up to 100,000 individuals from Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador who have family in the US will be eligible to live and work there.

COVID-19 Restrictions Set to Lift

COVID-19 restrictions have allowed US officials to turn away tens of thousands of migrants crossing the southern border, but those restrictions will lift on May 11th, and border officials are bracing for a surge. The US is deploying 1,500 active-duty US troops for administrative support and implementing other crackdown measures to manage overcrowding and other possible issues that might arise once the restrictions end.

Screening and Penalizing Illegal Crossers

The US plans to swiftly screen migrants seeking asylum at the border itself, quickly deport those deemed unqualified, and penalize people who cross illegally into the US or illegally move through another country on their way to the US border. The US also plans to penalize and deport migrants who illegally cross into the US.

Mexico Accepting Limited Number of Migrants

Mexico will keep accepting a maximum of 30,000 migrants every month from the four nations that are contributing significantly to the growing number of illegal border crossings, and it is not easy to repatriate these migrants quickly back to their home countries. Haiti has the highest number of asylum seekers in Mexico.

National Guard at the Border

Currently, there are 2,500 National Guard members at the border, but they are not working in a law enforcement capacity. The former President of the United States sent active-duty troops to aid in dealing with the processing of large groups of migrants.

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