The Trump administration announced Tuesday the reinstatement of the “Remain in Mexico” policy, officially known as the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP). The initiative requires non-Mexican asylum seekers to stay in Mexico while their U.S. immigration cases are processed. The policy, first introduced by Trump in 2019, was ended in 2021 by President Joe Biden but is now set to resume immediately.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that legal challenges surrounding Biden’s termination of the program allowed for its swift reinstatement. Trump, who took office Monday, emphasized the need for aggressive border security measures, with the MPP being a central focus of his plan. The administration views the program as a deterrent to fraudulent asylum claims.
Under the revived policy, migrants will be required to wait in Mexico until their U.S. court hearings. Advocates argue that the program exposes asylum seekers, including families and children, to unsafe conditions in border cities. The Biden administration cited these concerns when it ended the policy, describing the program as inhumane and ineffective.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responded to the announcement, pledging humanitarian aid for migrants while vowing to repatriate foreign nationals to their home countries. Details on how Mexico will handle the increased influx of migrants remain unclear.
The policy’s reinstatement underscores Trump’s broader commitment to securing the southern border. In addition to MPP, Trump has promised enhanced deportation efforts, stricter asylum rules, and the completion of a border wall. Critics argue that such measures could worsen the humanitarian crisis at the border, while supporters see them as necessary steps to ensure national security.
The MPP’s restart is expected to reshape migration patterns along the U.S.-Mexico border and could face legal challenges as its implementation unfolds.
