Mexico will not host those seeking asylum in the US 2:38
(CNN) -
The Biden administration is preparing plans for the gradual entry of migrants forced to stay in Mexico by a controversial Trump-era policy, informally known as "Stay in Mexico," according to three Homeland Security officials.
President Joe Biden pledged to end the "Stay in Mexico" policy.
For the past week, the administration has been in talks about when to begin slowly admitting migrants, many of whom are seeking asylum in the United States, two officials said.
An internal draft document underscores the importance of keeping health and safety protocols in mind, according to two Homeland Security officials.
It also says that admissions would likely start at two places yet to be announced.
No timeline has been set for when the change will take place or how many migrants would initially qualify.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Under the administration of former President Donald Trump, migrants from Central America and other parts of the world seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border were required to remain in Mexico until their hearings in U.S. immigration courts.
That meant waiting months, if not years, in squalid conditions and under threat of extortion, sexual assault and kidnapping.
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That policy was an unprecedented change from previous protocols.
These allowed the entry of migrants as they went through their immigration hearings in the United States.
Admitting migrants subject to Trump-era politics is a complicated task, given the vulnerability of the population and challenges in communicating the process and expectations.
Seek a 'fair and equitable' solution
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told CNN earlier this month that he has been involved in talks about ending the 'Stay in Mexico' policy.
"The urgency of this cannot be greater," he said.
Ongoing discussions have focused on how to find a 'fair and equitable way' to start bringing people back to the United States, a DHS official said, adding that one option is to put those incorporated into the United States first in line. the program in the first instance.
That also raises questions about how the United States processes new arrivals.
And also about what happens to the people who have been waiting for months, the official said.
He also added that the conversations have also taken into account the precautions for the covid-19.
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Under the Trump administration, there was a task force to assess whether virtual hearings could be held for migrants waiting in Mexico.
However, they never came up with a "workable solution," the DHS official told CNN.
The pandemic closed immigration courts and delayed cases, resulting in migrants staying in Mexico for longer periods and fueling frustration among those who had been waiting a long time.
The official said that while "the Trump-era program appeared to have a political bias," it was done "out of necessity."
And he warned that if the new administration terminates this program and others, the Border Patrol will likely release more migrants into the United States.
However, immigrant advocates and lawyers have argued that the program put migrants in danger.
In his first hours in office, Biden stopped enrolling new migrants in the program.
