Border Surge – March 2021

Teri Fedler
March 26, 2021
“During a 2019 Democratic presidential primary debate, President Biden said that the United States is a country that tells people struggling under oppression or poor conditions, "You should come," as he argued for a more open asylum policy.” “They deserve to be heard. That's who we are,” Biden said.” 

“This year, as Republicans blame Biden's campaign rhetoric and policies for the situation at the border, the president has shifted and is telling migrants that they should stay in their home countries as he aims to let them apply for asylum where they are. “I can say quite clearly don't come over,” Biden said. “So don't leave your town or city or community. We're gonna make sure we have facilities in those cities and towns run by dept. - by Department of Homeland Security [DHS] and also access with the Human Health Services [HHS] to say you can apply for asylum from where you are right now." 

“Biden and his administration have noted that there were significant migrant surges under the Trump administration as well.” (Last summer, the number of migrant encounters at the US-Mexico border began to rise, after having dropped when the pandemic gripped the western hemisphere.” “Federal border officials began to warn about a projected increase in the coming months.” “When Covid hit, we saw a…drop in the numbers. But we knew from the beginning that at some point those numbers would creep up," said former Customs and Border Protection [CBP] Commissioner Mark Morgan, citing the worsening conditions in Latin America as a result of the pandemic and hurricane devastation.”) “A White House spokesperson also said that "push forces," including "violence, economic hardships, corruption plus 2 hurricanes and a global pandemic," are driving people in Central America to the United States.” Biden does not believe migrants are coming because he was elected President. “But the first 2 months of 2021 have seen more border encounters by CBP than in corresponding months of any of the past 3 years.” “Many migrants are saying they decided to come to the United States because Biden was elected president.” “One migrant said he "definitely" would not have come if former President Trump was still in office.” “After being asked if he came to the U.S. because Biden was elected, the migrant said, "Basically" while also emphasizing the violence in his country.” “Another migrant…said that migrants are tuning out Biden's newer pleas to stay away partially because of the dangerous conditions in Central America.” Migrants say they are not listening to Biden’s message telling them not to come yet because the border isn’t ready to receive them all. The migrant said, “Look, if you guys lived in our country, you would know that it's really tough," citing violence and killing in his hometown.” “It's not gonna stop, ever," he added on the migrant surge.”   read more...

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