Confusion and tensions rise at US-Mexico border despite upholding Covid-era rules | US-Mexico border
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Along the southern border of the United States, two cities – El PasoTexas, and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, just across the Rio Grande River, are trying to prepare for a new surge of as many as 5,000 new immigrants a day as pandemic-era immigration restrictions expire this week and begin to move. There was a plan for emergency housing, food, and other necessities.
but judgment Confusion and tensions escalated after Monday night’s ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court that the restrictions, known as Title 42, will never end, as ordered by a lower court.
Mexican side of the border only pile of discarded clothes, shoes and a backpack were left on the river bank on Sunday morning. Until a few days ago, hundreds of people lined up to appear before U.S. authorities.
A young man from Ecuador stood anxiously on the Mexican side. After illegally crossing the border, he asked two of his journalists if they knew what would happen if he huddled in El Paso without a sponsor in the United States. – The legal process of applying for asylum in the United States.
Then he cautiously took off his sneakers and socks and jumped over the low tide.
On the American side, by a small fence guarded by several border patrol vehicles, he joined a line of a dozen people waiting unseen by American officials.
El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego told The Associated Press that the area, one of the busiest border crossings in the country, is coordinating housing and relocation efforts with local groups and other cities. He said he is calling on states and governments. Federal Government for Humanitarian Aid.
The area has prepared for an influx of new arrivals, after federal public health regulations, expected to double the number currently coming across the border into cities in West Texas via irregular immigration each day. rice field. Title 42 was scheduled to end on Wednesday.
The rule has been used to block the travel of more than 2.5 million immigrants since March 2020, but on Monday night, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts said that Republican officials in 19 states The request temporarily blocked the Biden administration from ending Title 42. .
Republican officials led by the attorneys general of Arizona and Louisiana said Monday after a federal appeals court on Friday refused to suspend a judge’s ruling last month voiding an emergency order known as Title 42. He asked the court to take action.
In a migrant shelter not far from the river in a poor neighborhood of Ciudad Juárez, Carmen Arros, 31, knew little about U.S. policy. In fact, she said she heard the border might close on December 21st.
She fled cartel violence in the Mexican state of Zacatecas a month ago, shortly after her fifth daughter was born and her husband went missing. The Methodist pastor who runs Buen Samaritano’s shelter has put her on a list to be released on parole to the United States, and she waits to be called up each week.
“They told me there was asylum in Juarez, but in reality I didn’t know much,” she said of the bunk bed she shared with the girls. “We’re here…and now let’s see if the U.S. government can solve our case.”
In a sprawling Mexican government-run shelter in a former Ciudad Juarez factory, dozens of migrants watched the soccer World Cup final on Sunday afternoon, while a team of doctors from El Paso died of respiratory ailments, many of whom died. treated people. in the cold season.
Dylan Corbett, director of the Hope Border Institute, a Catholic organization that helps immigrants in both El Paso and Juárez, said constantly changing policies make planning difficult. The group started the clinic two months ago.
“You have a lot of pent-up pain,” Corbett said. “I’m afraid of what might happen.” Amid government policy turmoil, “most of the work has been left to faith communities to pick up the pieces and deal with the consequences.”
In El Paso, just a few blocks across the border, sleet fell and about 80 migrants gathered to eat tacos grilled by volunteers. rice field.
“We’re going to keep feeding them as much as we can,” said Veronica Castrena, who came out with her husband tortillas and ground beef and blankets for those who might sleep on the street. .
Jeff Pesshon, owner of the town’s trucking school, said it was the second time he had come with an employee to help immigrants on the road. I wanted to let them know they weren’t alone.”
But Kathy Countis, a retiree across the street from Petion, said she fears new arrivals will get out of hand in El Paso. resource exhaustion Directing enforcement from criminals to those claiming asylum.
El Paso Mayor Oscar Reaser issued a state of emergency on Saturday, allowing access to additional local and state resources to build shelters and other urgently needed aid.
A Samaniego County judge said the order came a day after El Paso officials sent a letter to Texas Governor Greg Abbott requesting humanitarian assistance to the area, and the request was made to care for newly arrived immigrants. , added that it was a request for resources to help relocate. , not additional security forces – Texas and the federal government have big expense.
El Paso officials organized to provide migrants with temporary housing while they were processed, sponsored, and moved to a larger city where they could be flown or bused to their final destination, Samaniego said. is adjusted with
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https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/dec/20/us-mexico-border-pandemic-expiring-restrictions Confusion and tensions rise at US-Mexico border despite upholding Covid-era rules | US-Mexico border