By Juan Hernandez
A few days ago, Joe Biden and López Obrador met in Mexico, and immigration is on the agenda of the North American Leaders Summit. But in the meantime, immigration continues to be a matter of life and death for many people. While Hurricane Elliot continued to batter the United States as it hasn’t done for a generation, it’s not the only storm that chilled Christmas and the holidays for the millions of migrants living in the United States. The Supreme Court of the United States addressed the issue of Title 42. This measure allows the rejection of migrants who cross the border of Mexico illegally to prevent possible infections by COVID-19 and was instituted by President Trump. The Supreme Court declared that it must remain in force until the legal remedies filed by the governments have been exhausted. As if that were not enough, the immigration reform initiatives discussed in the United States Congress that would help millions of dreamers and farm workers were left out of the budget for 2023. Therefore, no resources were allocated to continue fighting for the cause of migrants.
This new setback makes political analysts wonder what happens to Joe Biden and the Democrats who did not complete their campaign promises to migrants? One by one the attempts of the current president of the United States fell like snowflakes freezing any intention of the present administration to help migrants. Part of the answer to this question can be found in the results of the November midterm elections. Although Republicans did not gain the overwhelming victory that many predicted, but managed to polarize the country and all government issues including migration. Jorge Cancino, a specialist on immigration issues stated: «With the new scenario in Congress after the elections, where the Republicans regained control of the House of Representatives, immigration reform will no longer be in the regularization of undocumented immigrants, but in those seeking asylum.»
Thus, Democrats themselves have shifted the discussion of the latest immigration reform initiatives focusing on those who try to cross and not on the millions of undocumented immigrants living in the United States. During Joe Biden’s administration the narrative changed in that migrants were no longer deemed «criminals,» but were classified as «non-citizens.» The ghosts of Donald Trump continue to haunt, and we hope they do not influence decisions that the Republicans take in the legislative attempts that are made to promote a new reform. Many migrant leaders saw 2023 as the key year to consolidate some legal tool that would give them citizenship, because in 2024 everything will be politicized. As has unfortunately happened, migrants will be the banner of many campaign promises that mostly will not materialize. «God willing Biden already fulfills his promise, otherwise this will be a mockery and a great disappointment for those of us who voted for him,» a migrant leader wrote to me on WhatsApp a few days ago.
We have seen, however, that the president of the United States has not managed to push the immigration issue to the legislative priorities of his country. In Mexico a 26% cut was announced for the care of Mexicans abroad. This budget reduction (174,000,000 pesos) would affect consular assistance through which our countrymen who live mainly in the United States have access to license plates, passports, birth certificates, as well as employment, legal, and credential guidance. “The consulates cannot cope, something that worries us a lot in the midst of the immigration containment policy imposed by Joe Biden. In many cases, it is we, the migrant groups, who organize ourselves to finance and support our compatriots,” Julio Carrasco, president of the Alliance of Mexicans in the American Union commented in an interview with Sol de México.
One thing is clear: from both sides of the Rio Grande, the migration landscape is increasingly complex. We are facing a great challenge and, from the National Coordination of State Offices for Migrant Assistance (CONOFAM), we have strengthened ourselves to overcome difficult times. Only in the last three years, despite the health contingency caused by COVID-19, have we been able to attend to migrants in a timely manner. Let us not forget that the institutes, offices, and state officials carry out essential tasks during the pandemic such as the transfer of bodies or the delivery of groceries to the families of migrants.
Several states like Guanajuato generate care protocols for migrants. Within the framework of International Migrants Day, our governor, Diego Sinhue Rodríguez Vallejo, sent a message to continue joining efforts among the different levels of government in the country not to abandon migrants or their families. While Storm Elliot caused unprecedented damage in the United States, cold fronts already cover a large part of the Mexican territory. The forecasts remain difficult, but 2023 will be a better year for migrants. I know this because united we managed to get ahead and unite. Although it seems that the relationship between Biden and López Obrador is just as cold as these times, perhaps at their next meeting it will be good to pass them the hat to collect dollars and pesos that, with the help of our migrants, we could multiply with a three for one, and warm up a bit the spirits of both presidents. What do you think?
Let’s talk about it at:
Facebook @juanhernandez.org
Twitter @JuanHernadezS
Juan Hernández collaborates with El Sol del Bajío. This column was published with permission.
