U.S. expands effort to allow in vulnerable migrants at Mexico border
May 6, 2021
1:50 PM CDT
Americas
Kristina CookeTed HessonMica Rosenberg
5 minute read
The United States has begun rolling out a new system to identify and admit the most vulnerable migrants at ports of entry along the U.S.-Mexico border, according to three people briefed on the matter.
The new system, which started at the port of entry in El Paso, Texas, this week, creates a more formal process that allows pre-screened asylum seekers to enter the United States on humanitarian grounds, despite a broad policy of expulsions at the border.
The expulsion policy was put in place under former Republican President Donald Trump in March 2020 citing public health concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic. President Joe Biden has not revoked it.
By next week, the effort to streamline exemptions is expected to expand to other Texas ports in Brownsville, Laredo and Hidalgo, as well as in Nogales, Arizona, U.S. officials said on a call with advocates on Wednesday, according to two people familiar with the discussion.
More:
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-expands-effort-allow-vulnerable-migrants-mexico-border-2021-05-06/
