Biden Administration Ends ‘Remain in Mexico’ Policy

This week, the Department of Homeland Security officially announced the end of the Trump-era “Remain In Mexico” policy, meaning that instead of waiting for their hearings in Mexico, asylum seekers will be released in the United States as they wait.

Former President Donald Trump put the policy in place in January of 2019 to stop illegal aliens from flooding the border, claiming asylum, and avoiding their eventual hearings.

On June 30, the Supreme Court ruled that the Biden administration could terminate the policy, allowing DHS to close the door on it.

After the decision, Trump-appointed U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk placed an injunction on the decision, keeping DHS from moving forward with ending the policy.

Hours after Judge Kacsmaryk lifted his injunction, DHS officials announced their plans to end the policy and allow anyone waiting in Mexico for their hearings to enter and stay in the U.S. while waiting for their outcome:

DHS is committed to ending the court-ordered implementation of MPP in a quick, and orderly, manner. Individuals are no longer being newly enrolled into MPP, and individuals currently in MPP in Mexico will be disenrolled when they return for their next scheduled court date.

Under Trump’s policy, approximately 70,000 migrants were sent back to Mexico to await their hearings. When Biden entered office, he made it clear that his goal was to end the practice and allow asylum seekers to enter and stay in the country while waiting. 

From December 2021 to early July, the number of migrants sent back to Mexico decreased to only 5,800.

Though most Democrats are embracing the reversal, Republicans across the country have expressed their disapproval of the move. 

“Joe Biden has officially put an end to the final Trump-era policy that helped stop illegal immigration. He’s made it clear our borders are open for business, and he doesn’t care how it impacts our communities,” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton tweeted. 

While the Biden administration continues to ignore the harmful drug crisis and overflow of illegal immigrants coming across the Texas-Mexico border, Gov. Greg Abbott used the opportunity to highlight his recent move of busing illegal aliens into New York and Washington, D.C. 

“The federal government’s refusal to address the border crisis is what’s truly horrific. Texas will send buses to Washington, D.C., and New York City until Biden does his constitutional duty and secures our border,” said Abbott. 

Emily Medeiros

Emily graduated from the University of Oklahoma majoring in Journalism. She is excited to use her research and writing skills to report on important issues around Texas.