THE UNITED STATES IS SET TO EXPAND AREAS FOR MIGRANTS TO APPLY ONLINE FOR ENTRY AT ITS SOUTHERN BORDER

US EXPANDS AREAS FOR MIGRANTS TO APPLY ONLINE FOR ENTRY AT ITS SOUTHERN BORDER.

Introduction

The Biden administration announced on August 3 that it will let more people apply online for spots to come into the United States in a large area of southern Mexico. This could help the Mexican government and make it safer for folks trying to get to the US border to ask for asylum.

People can book their spots on the CBP One app in Chiapas and Tabasco, which will cover a wider area in Mexico. This move is a win for Mexico, which has been working closely with the US to handle the many people trying to cross the border.

The background to this change | US Expands areas for migrants

In June, the US put a hold on processing asylum for people who sneak into the country, making CBP One the only way for migrants to get into the US to ask for asylum, which has made it even harder for people to sneak in. US officials said that the number of people caught trying to cross illegally fell by 30% in July compared to the month before, hitting the lowest point during Joe Biden’s time in office and the lowest since September 2020.

More than 680,000 people have made appointments with CBP One at eight land crossings between Mexico and the US since it started in January 2023. The most common nationalities are from Venezuela, Cuba, and Haiti. US officials had earlier cut down on spots for Mexicans because so many people from Mexico are trying to get in.

Traveling through Mexico

The dangers of traveling through Mexico to avoid being kidnapped or robbed have made a lot of migrants fly to northern border cities like Tijuana to get their CBP One appointment once they get to the southernmost point they can from where they started (Mexico).

Most people get into Mexico from Chiapas or Tabasco in Guatemala. Mexico might have more chances for jobs and be safer, but the cost of living is also higher, so some people end up living in makeshift camps in the capital.

The Mexican-US relationship | US Expands areas for migrants

Moving forward, the US government has been able to ease the pressure on its northern border a lot, which has really helped the Mexican government’s relationship with the US become very positive and strong.

The Mexican efforts

US officials have mentioned that the big increase in Mexican efforts is the main reason for the huge drop in people caught trying to cross the border illegally in the first half of this year. Mexican officials have been more active at highway checkpoints and on the trains going to the US border, sending most people back to southern Mexico.

The role of collaboration

This change means migrants won’t have to make the long trip north through Mexico to snag one of the 1,450 spots available daily. The US government didn’t say when this would start; however, they have promised to keep talking to partners in Mexico and adjust policies and procedures based on what is happening with migration and security.

This promise backs up what Mexico’s Foreign Affairs Secretary Alicia Bárcena said a day before, saying that getting closer to the US has cut down on the number of people trying to cross the border illegally.

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