Asylum Seekers No Longer Forced to “Wait Outside”

South Americans who seek asylum in the United States no longer need to go back and “Remain in Mexico” while their claim is being reviewed, a decision hailed as a major victory from migrant rights advocates.

“I share the belief that we can only manage migration in an effective, responsible, and durable manner if we approach the issue comprehensively, looking well beyond our own borders,” says U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

As part of the dismantlement of anti-immigrant policies enforced by his predecessor, President Biden is abolishing the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) – or “Remain in Mexico” program – as per the executive orders he signed on his first day in office. Seeking asylum is completely legal and “the forced return policy was cruel, depraved, and illegal, and we are glad that it has finally been rescinded,” says Judy Rabinovitz, the lead American Civil Liberties Union attorney who challenged the MPP policy.