Chaos at the US southern border

This week, the US southern border was in chaos after a Trump-era policy, Title 42, expired. This regulation was implemented at the height of the pandemic and allowed officials to turn away immigrants at the US-Mexico border on the grounds of preventing the spread of the virus. This policy, however, didn’t have any strong consequence for anyone who tried to enter the US illegally. If one was caught, he was simply returned to his home country or to Mexico without penalties such as imprisonment or being banned from reentry. This allowed migrants to try as many times as they want to cross illegally and apply for asylum. Now that this regulation has expired, the policy reverts to the old rule where there are sanctions and consequences for illegal entry. In addition, the Biden administration is also imposing new rules for asylum seekers.

Knowing that Title 42 policy was ending, there was an anticipated surge in migrant crossings to take advantage of the old rule. The administration was in full preparation along with mobilization of funds and resources to border cities and communities to support organizations providing food, shelter, and other assistance to immigrants. Asylum officers, immigration judges, and troops were also sent in order to assist the US Department of Homeland Security in processing applications and maintaining peace and order. Meanwhile, the US House voted to pass a bill just a few hours before the expiration of Title 42 that aims to strengthen border security, provide funding to restart border wall construction, and reinstate the policy that requires asylum seekers to be sent back to Mexico during immigration proceedings. This bill has already been assured of Biden's veto if it ever reaches his desk considering it will never pass in the Democrat-led Senate.

This recent news only illustrates how disorganized and broken the US immigration system is. There has been no real, lasting, and concrete solutions offered by past Republican and Democrat presidents. Immigrants and their families are caught in the political crossfire, always being used as pawns during elections. It’s time for immigrants, legal or not, their advocate groups, even US citizens, to demand their political leaders settle this issue once and for all.

* * *

Speaking of the southern border, I had an immigrant who told me recently he used the southern border to enter the US. I never guessed where he originally came from. He came all the way from Nepal. When asked why and how he reached the southern border, he said that from Nepal he went to India, then traveled through other countries like Brazil until he reached Mexico. He then applied for asylum at the border in California, was admitted, then sent to Texas. He was allowed to leave a holding facility pending his hearing before an immigration judge. He then decided to come to New York when his asylum was still pending. His journey from Nepal took months, he risked life and limb by traversing unknown countries, joining other strangers he met along the way, and taking his chance at being denied entry at the border. Obviously, his risks were rewarded and he is already living and working in the US.

This illustrates the lengths people go to just to come to the US. You may ask what’s in the US that people from every corner of the world want. The short answer is opportunity. The US provides an opportunity for anyone to have a better shot at life. The opportunity to be what you want your life to be. True, the US has its own share of racism, xenophobia, and discrimination, but what weighs more heavily is that the US is abound with opportunities and possibilities more than any other first-world country can provide to immigrants. As long as you dream big, work hard, and seize the opportunity presented to you, there’s no limit to what you can be.