New policy will further limit access to life-saving asylum
Tyler Mattiace
Researcher, Americas Division
@tmattiaceHRW
Vicki Gaubeca
Associate Director, United States Program
The United States and Mexico announced a new “border enforcement” policy on Thursday, January 5, 2023, which prevents Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans from gaining asylum by immediately deporting them to Mexico under the Trump-era Title 42 rule.
They also announced the expansion of a parole program that will allow some Cubans, Haitians and Nicaraguans who are able to obtain a financial sponsor in the US, have a valid passport and pay for airline tickets, to apply for permission to travel to the US. USA by plane. . The administration established a similar policy for Venezuelans in October 2022.
The Biden and López Obrador administrations have portrayed the parole program as expanding legal avenues for non-citizens, but in reality it will likely decrease the number of people.
able to access vital protection in the US This is because people fleeing for safety are often unable to obtain passports or wait in their home countries while their applications are processed, particularly those fleeing government persecution. Given the current situation in Cuba, Haiti, and Nicaragua, the policy makes it extremely difficult for people in these countries to meet these conditions. The program is also contrary to international refugee law and international human rights law, which prohibit discrimination in access to asylum, including based on economic means.
