The Trump administration has officially announced the reinstatement of the controversial "remain in Mexico" program, which mandates that non-Mexican asylum seekers wait in Mexico while their U.S. immigration cases are processed. This decision comes shortly after Donald Trump reclaimed the presidency and promised aggressive border security measures. According to the Reuters, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed that the program would restart immediately, reversing the policies instituted by former President Joe Biden, who ended the program in 2021 citing humanitarian concerns.

Initially launched in 2019, the "remain in Mexico" policy, formally known as the Migrant Protection Protocols, aimed to deter purportedly fraudulent asylum claims. However, critics have long argued that the policy places vulnerable groups, including families with young children, in dangerous and unsanitary conditions in Mexico where crime rates are alarmingly high. As articulated by The Guardian, advocates have denounced the policy for exacerbating the dangers faced by migrants, particularly those from Central and South America.

Trump's administration asserts that ongoing legal disputes regarding the prior termination of the program provide a pathway for immediate implementation. During a press conference, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum commented on the announcement, stating that her government would assist migrants humanely, even while promising to manage repatriation efforts. She emphasized that despite the renewed pressure from the U.S. administration, her approach would favor constructive relations over confrontation.

Under the original program, which operated from early 2019 until its suspension in January 2021, approximately 70,000 migrants were affected. Many faced perilous conditions in makeshift camps along the border. With the new reinstatement of the policy, migrants seeking refuge in the U.S. will once again be compelled to wait outside the country as their applications are reviewed, a move that could lead to increased unauthorized crossings and heightened risks for those attempting perilous routes, as highlighted by the ongoing challenges and tragedies faced by migrants in pursuit of safety.