What Do Changes in U.S. Policy Mean for Migrants?
Immigration attorney Leon Fresco was quoted in The Dialogue's Latin America Advisor about a change in U.S. immigration policy that has led to a decline in the number of migrants entering the country illegally from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela. The decline comes after the U.S. implemented new rules that that send some migrants to Mexico without the opportunity to seek asylum, while expanding a pathway for a legal presence in the U.S. Mr. Fresco commented on the purpose of this policy shift.
"The changes in U.S. immigration policy are designed to dramatically reduce the flow of asylum seekers from Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Haiti currently seeking to enter the U.S. via illegal entry across the southern border by instead channeling them through more organized manners of entry such as through our ports of entry and through our airports under a legal parole program," he said.
Mr. Fresco also said he believes illegal crossings along the southern border will get worse once Title 42 ends in May 2023 and discussed possible ways to mitigate the issues that will arise at that time.
"In order to prevent a serious border surge this spring, Congress will need to act to authorize a similar carrot-and-stick approach that is enduring and would thus survive any judicial challenges," he added.