US government must reintroduce "Remain in Mexico" program

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U.S.-Mexico border (archive photo)

Photo: Ringo Chiu / dpa

The administration of US President Joe Biden has to reintroduce a controversial migration regulation from the tenure of Donald Trump against its will.

The US Department of Homeland Security announced on Thursday in Washington that the provisions of the "Remain in Mexico" program would probably be implemented again from next Monday - according to a court order.

The US had introduced the regulation in 2019 under then President Trump.

Accordingly, asylum seekers who want to enter the US via the southern border must remain in Mexico for the duration of their proceedings.

Trump's successor, Biden, abolished the program shortly after he took office in January.

Application failed before the Supreme Court

However, a federal judge in Texas ordered the reintroduction in the summer.

An application by Biden's government to suspend this order was unsuccessful in the country's Supreme Court.

The US Department of Homeland Security said some changes to the program had been agreed to improve it from a humanitarian perspective.

This includes the plan to vaccinate those who have to remain in Mexico against the coronavirus and to process their asylum procedures within six months.

In principle, however, the Biden government is sticking to its criticism of the program.

It does not help combat the causes of irregular migration, it said.

Mexico wants to cooperate and temporarily not deport migrants with an appointment with a US immigration judge, as the State Department there announced.

kfr / dpa