Biden Admin Ends Unfair ‘Remain in Mexico’ Policy for Asylum Seekers

New York, NY (June 2, 2021) — Immigration Equality Legal Director Bridget Crawford released the following statement:

We applaud the end to the illegal Remain in Mexico program. President Trump created a humanitarian disaster with this policy that has resulted in well over a thousand asylum seekers being assaulted, raped, kidnapped or murdered while awaiting their asylum hearing, including LGBTQ and HIV-positive people. However, the June 1, 2021, memorandum does not address the many thousands of individuals who were wrongfully denied relief under the MPP program.

These people no longer have “active” cases, so they are not being processed by the Administration, but many are living in Mexico or have been returned back to their countries where they face persecution. Quite literally, some of these people have been handed a death sentence. The Biden Administration has not addressed these cases yet and whether people wrongfully denied relief under the MPP program will have an opportunity to renew their claims. 

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Immigration Equality is the nation’s leading LGBTQ immigrant rights organization. We represent and advocate for people from around the world fleeing violence, abuse, and persecution because of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status.