Activists and shelters expect a new wave of migration on the northern border of Mexico after the agreement between the Mexican government and the United States, which announced that it will process applications from migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela who are in Mexican territory, reports Efe in a cable reviewed by Swissinfo.ch.
After meetings in Mexico between senior officials from both countries, U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan issued a statement last Friday that reached the cell phones of migrants who are under international bridges waiting to cross the border.
“We announce our full support for a multipurpose international space that the Government of Mexico plans to establish in southern Mexico to offer new shelter and work options to the most vulnerable people currently in Mexico,” says the statement signed by the US government.
In the bulletin, the U.S. also “commits to accepting refugee resettlement referrals from qualified individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela already in Mexico.”
The message gave hope to migrants like Guatemalan Angel Lobos, who has been in Ciudad Juarez for a month waiting for an appointment.
“Other migrants are already taking steps here, that’s why they decide to come to the United States, we are struggling, but we believe that the appointment will come out,” he told EFE.
Juan Fierro, director of the Good Samaritan shelter of the Methodist Church of Mexico, told EFE that the measures are “well-intentioned,” but they will accelerate the arrival of migrants.
“The people from these countries who are already here, who have accumulated, it is good that they receive them and already cross and continue their political asylum process, but this can cause a wave of people from those countries with the same intention that they can pass,” he explained.
The situation reflects the panorama on Mexico’s borders after the expiration on May 11 of Title 42 of the US, a measure that immediately expelled migrants with the argument of the pandemic, now replaced with Title 8 and greater restrictions on legal asylum.
Although after the end of this migration policy irregular encounters of migrants at the US border fell by 50% between May and June, there was a 36% increase between June and July in irregular migration of families traveling together, Mexican Foreign Minister Alicia Bárcena revealed last week.
Fierro already warns of an increase in the arrival of migrants, since there are already 85 people in the shelter, when days ago there were barely 60, with what he hopes soon “reach the top” of capacity.
“I do not know how they are going to handle that situation because people continue to arrive and it becomes chaos at the border, we have already experienced similar situations due to immigration policies,” he added.
Venezuelan Jose Amaro, 26, entered Mexico 25 days ago, and is now hoping to get an appointment with the U.S. CBP One app.
“I have learned that this news came out recently, that they are in that process that Venezuelans, Nicaraguans, Haitians and Cubans already have the possibility of having a pass to the United States because it has become quite difficult for us,” he said.
With the news, the migrant said he will not cross the Rio Grande, as those who are already desperate living on the street and without food have done in recent weeks. (https://www.newsmigrausa.com/noticias/frontera-norte-de-mexico-a-la-espera-de-proxima-ola-migratoria-tras-nuevo-acuerdo-con-eeuu/?fbclid=IwAR1OU7IvFsPWD2DSkoKcWBK1kEMWDD_N-jaGsQAFZO25DziMi9ZGT2_U084)
