Sergio Ortiz Borbolla/WOLA |
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| Dear John,
After three years, Title 42, a policy used during the Trump era that restricted migrants from seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border and continued under the Biden administration, has finally come to an end.
Sadly, the U.S. government is continuing with restrictions on asylum through measures that are similar to previous policies deemed unlawful in the courts. As we continue to advocate for migrant rights, here are 10 Things to Know About the End of Title 42.
The news generated dozens of media requests from leading English and Spanish language newspapers such as The New York Times and Mexico’s La Jornada, as well as several radio and TV networks.
As Mexico announced that it would continue to accept “the return of migrants on humanitarian grounds,” WOLA led a joint letter to the Mexican government requesting information on how the government will support and protect this vulnerable population and what immigration documents it will provide to the Venezuelan, Haitian, Cuban and Nicaraguan migrants after they have been deported by the United States.
In other news, WOLA President, Carolina Jiménez Sandoval, penned an opinion piece about her recent prison visit to Virginia Laparra, a courageous anti-corruption public prosecutor from Guatemala, as the justice system is being weaponized against dissenting voices, including those of justice officials themselves. The article was published in El Faro, the award winning Central American news outlet.
We also published a blog post on where Venezuela’s opposition stands ahead of the 2024 Venezuelan presidential elections and we denounced the Cuban government’s response to recent peaceful protests. All this and more in this week’s WOLA Weekly. Best, |
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Maureen Meyer Vice President for Programs |
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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE END OF TITLE 42 |
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🇺🇸 🇲🇽 After 38 months, Title 42, the policy that restricted the basic right for migrants to seek asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border has come to an end. Sadly, the Biden Administration and Mexican government are looking for ways to continue to restrict access to asylum. Here are 10 things to know about the end of Title 42.
- 🇲🇽 As Mexico announced this week that it would be accepting “the return of migrants on humanitarian grounds,” WOLA signed a joint letter to the Mexican government requesting clarification.
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📰 Quoted in a recent San Diego Union-Tribune article, Adam Isacson, Director for Defense Oversight, says, "It’s the first time we massively denied protection to people who needed it on this scale since World War II. We don’t really know the full human cost of that.”
- 📰 Adam Isacson also stated in Bloomberg, "The expulsions have absolutely not deterred these nations’ citizens from migrating. They’re still fleeing — but they’re stranded.”
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🎙️ In an interview with Washington Correspondent, Sergio Gómez, from Colombian daily, El Tiempo, Adam discussed the impact of Title 42 on Colombian migrants. This interview is in Spanish.
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🗞️ In an interview with leading Mexican newspaper La Jornada, Maureen Meyer, Vice President for Programs, explained that: " There are very few opportunities compared to the number of people who continue to need protection but, whose human rights to seek asylum in this country continue to be violated." This article is in Spanish.
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📰 In the New York Times, Stephanie Brewer, Director for Mexico, highlighted the negative impact that the use of armed forces has on migrants: “Deploying the armed forces as your main migration enforcement tool sends a message both to migrants, asylum seekers and to society that migrants are a threat and they should be treated as a security issue, like an invasion.”
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🎙️ Stephanie said in an interview with The World: "If the door is shut to them, to seeking protection, they are forced on to dangerous routes to try to cross the border..."
- 📰 Stephanie was also quoted by an NPR affiliate: "We’re going to see repetition of large numbers of people stranded or returned to a situation in which they're facing danger, and of course lack of access to a lot of basic resources."
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In this audiogram on social media, WOLA President, Carolina Jiménez Sandoval, emphasizes the importance of allowing migrants access to legal pathways. |
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🇻🇪 As Venezuela gears up for its 2024 Presidential Elections, read about where the Venezuelan opposition stands and how civil society is working to ensure the right to vote as well as the elections' validity and transparency.
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🇨🇺 On May 8, Cubans gathered to peacefully protest in Caimanera, a town located near Guantánamo Bay, calling for food, freedom and human rights. In response, Cuban authorities resorted to force, arbitrary detentions and interrupted telecommunications. WOLA condemned Cuba's crackdown in this statement here.
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This week, WOLA staff met for their 2023 WOLA retreat. They discussed upcoming projects and events, and participated in team building exercises. We can't wait to share what we have in store for you in 2023-2024! |
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In April 2022, WOLA launched its one-of-a-kind Border Oversight Database, which documents hundreds of reports of human rights violations and abuses against migrants and asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border. |
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Carolina Jiménez Sandoval President of WOLA |
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| Ana María Méndez-Dardón Director for Central America |
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STAND WITH US AS WE CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR MIGRANT RIGHTS AT THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER |
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Sergio Ortiz Borbolla/WOLA |
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