Texas leader pressures Biden administration to lift restrictions on US border – CBS Dallas / Fort Worth

By Editor On Jul 8, 2021

North Texas (CBSDFW.COM/CNN) – A group of mayors, including parts of Texas, recently pressured the U.S. Immigration Bureau to keep travel restrictions related to COVID-19 in place.

The question that comes to mind: Why was a cross-border trip suspended for more than a year not allowed to be resumed?

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The authorities had no answer.

“If the government does not want to lift these restrictions, we must provide a compelling reason,” said Trey Mendez, Mayor of Brownsville, Texas, reducing COVID-19 cases in his city. Listed trends and access to vaccines.

When the coronavirus pandemic began last year, the Trump administration put restrictions in place along the northern and southern borders of the United States to restrict unnecessary travel. It has also set up a public health agency called Title 42, which enables border agencies to keep migrants out.

This restriction places restrictions on a wide range of frontier workers and prohibits many immigrants from seeking asylum in the United States. Over the past few weeks, these restrictions have been closely monitored as COVID-19 cases have declined and air traffic has increased.

For example, US travelers can fly into Mexico, but there are still restrictions on who can cross the border.

“People couldn’t get permission to walk or drive, but it’s easy to get to the airport and fly,” said Todd Gloria, San Diego mayor, who answered a phone call to the US last Thursday. Said. Immigration officials have characterized it as experts. “These guys are inconsistent, but add frustration.”

The limits mutually agreed with Mexico and Canada are updated monthly. The last restrictions announced in June are in effect until July 21st.

The Biden government does not provide a timetable for when these restrictions will be lifted and is a concern for border communities, some of which rely on cross-border travel to revitalize the economy. Caused.

“Our economy will not resume until our borders are reopened,” said Gloria.

According to two officials, US customs and border protection officials are preparing internally for the final lifting of the border restrictions. Some officials said they were concerned about staffing levels and whether there were enough agents and officers to handle the increased number of people.

“We don’t have the human resources and that’s the reality,” officials told CNN.

According to another official, the local Customs and Border Protection Bureau, which is responsible for securing the borders of the US ports of entry, has returned police officers to the port in anticipation of deregulation.

Texas Democrat Henry Cuellar has repeatedly asked authorities at both private and parliamentary hearings when the restrictions are likely to be lifted.

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“The transparency on the US side is not that high,” says Cuellar. “You think it’s imminent, but there is no date.”

A Homeland Security spokesman told CNN, “To help contain the spread of COVID-19, the United States has extended mandatory travel restrictions on land and ferry routes between Canada and Mexico through July 21st. DHS Also Looking at the positive developments of the past few weeks, we are working with other US agencies in the White House Expert Working Group with Canada and Mexico to identify conditions under which restrictions will be relaxed safely and sustainably. . “

New York Democrat Brian Higgins has repeatedly complained about the lack of transparency in the easing of restrictions. “That contradicts logic. It is against science. Higgins, co-chair of the Northern Border Caucus, mentioned the current restrictions on cross-border travel, which are contrary to the facts. ”He also stressed that the border community between the US and Canada is closely linked.

New York Republican Elise Stephanik wrote a June letter calling on the Biden government to lift unnecessary travel restrictions. “Our community cannot tolerate any further delays or toleration. It seems that unilateral action is needed to reopen the border, ”she told Homeland Security Minister Alejandro Mallorcus. I am writing in a letter.

Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said last Friday that in order to protect the security of the citizens of both countries, his country “will continue to work closely with the United States to ensure our approach is consistent”. Said. He added that the resumption date will depend on the situation after Canada eased mandatory two-week quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated citizens and residents traveling overseas on Monday.

Unnecessary travel restrictions are part of a series of restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic and remain in place causing confusion and frustration.

The Biden administration has also faced heavy criticism for relying on Title 42 of the Trump administration’s health services to expel immigrants encountered on the U.S.-Mexico border. As of October last year, US border guards have expelled 648,185 immigrants from government agencies, according to government reports.

Immigrant advocates claim the policy has put migrants at risk and put many in Mexico at risk, including asylum seekers. In some cases, unaccompanied immigrant children are not subject to the policy and the family has abandoned the child.

Public health experts wrote to Minister of Health Xavier Besera and Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the order was based “on political considerations, not public health”. Persisted.

Authorities are considering ending the public health order, which remains controversial between supporters and the government.

Immigrant attorneys were public at a roundtable with Vice President Kamala Harris last month in El Paso, Texas, according to California immigration attorney Taylor Levy, who works with immigrants along the southern border. He rescinded the hygiene ordinance and the urgency to end it.

“Title 42 was basically a Covid stimulus given that the cartel can make so much money,” Levy said. She added that the cartel is taking advantage of people banished to Mexico under the authorities.

Human Rights First reports that since President Joe Biden took office on June 17, more than 3,000 kidnappings and other attacks, including rape and human trafficking, have occurred against asylum seekers and migrants. was there.

Kenji Kizuka, deputy director of Human Rights First, said, “Seek protection. “

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