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A28 u.s. news
Diahuebs 4 November 2021

How Biden’s border plans went from hopeful to chaotic

while allowing thousands to time and won’t happen over- sistant Homeland Security
remain in the U.S. Its un- night,” said spokesman Ved- secretary for border secu-
even response after months ant Patel. “In a short period rity and immigration, and
of rising arrivals sparked of time, the Biden admin- Roberta Jacobson, a former
sharp criticism from both the istration continues to make U.S. ambassador to Mexico
right and left, illustrating the considerable progress deliv- and career diplomat in Latin
consequences of scrapping ering on its plan.” America who agreed to serve
Trump’s policies without a 100 days on the National Se-
new asylum system in place. Guatemala, El Salvador and curity Council as coordinator
Honduras accounted for for the Southwest border.
Some key developments about two of every three bor-
could not have been predict- der arrests and people who Crossings fell sharply after
ed by any administration, and came in families made up Trump expanded the policy
pre-dating Biden was a major more than half in the govern- in 2019, but migrants were
structural problem of immi- ment’s 2019 fiscal year, both forced to wait in danger-
gration courts taking nearly all-time highs. In a throw- ous and unfamiliar Mexican
(AP) — For about four Almost immediately, num- four years on average to de- back to earlier times, encoun- border cities where finding
months before President bers of migrants exceeded cide cases of immigrants not ters with single adults soared steady work was difficult and
Joe Biden took office, ad- expectations. Plans outlined in custody. during Trump’s final year in finding attorneys was nearly
visers engaged in intense in a December document to office after the launch of Title impossible. Human Rights
internal debate about how fully resume asylum process- But a close review of the last 42 authority, which allowed First, an advocacy group,
quickly they should undo ing at land crossings were year — based on internal migrants to be expelled with- documented 1,544 examples
his predecessor’s hardline soon overtaken by events. documents obtained by The out a chance to seek asylum of violent assaults, includ-
border policies. Associated Press and AIM on the basis of coronavirus. ing murder, rape, torture and
Children traveling alone Media Texas and dozens of They also faced no legal con- kidnapping.
The answer, almost always, shattered previous highs in interviews with current and sequences, encouraging re-
was that Donald Trump’s March, making up most of former U.S. and Mexican of- peat attempts. The complicated logistics
mark couldn’t be erased soon the more than 4,500 people ficials, migrants, shelter man- of allowing up to 26,000
enough. housed in temporary tents agers, advocates and others — Against that daunting back- asylum-seekers with active
that were designed for 250 shows how an administration drop, Biden took office sur- cases to return to the United
Immigration advocates on under COVID-19 standards. stacked with seasoned immi- rounded by immigration ex- States and remain free while
the transition team defiantly The Border Patrol encoun- gration advocates was unpre- perts steeped with advocacy their cases wound through
shot down a detailed memo tered migrants in South Texas pared for the huge increase in backgrounds. Esther Olavar- the courts was a high priority
circulated among top aides more often than ever in June people seeking refuge at the ria, an immigration attorney in the administration’s first
that called for turning back and July, dashing expecta- border. Many interviewed who worked for former Sen. weeks.
some migrants who cross il- tions for a common summer for this reconstruction spoke Ted Kennedy and the Obama
legally by making them seek slowdown. on condition of anonymity administration but spent All records were on paper,
protection in other countries. because they were not autho- much of her career as a Mi- with few working phone
They pushed back against In September, about 15,000 rized or comfortable discuss- ami-based organizer, took a numbers or addresses listed,
estimates of soaring migra- mostly Haitian refugees were ing private deliberations. top spot on the White House posing a challenge on how
tion flows if Trump’s policies camped under a bridge in Domestic Policy Council to get the word out. U.S.
were dismantled. the small border town of Del When presented with specif- with Tyler Moran, who was authorities, working closely
Rio, Texas. The chaotic scene ics of the reconstruction, the then executive director of with United Nations orga-
In the end, Biden recog- stretched on for days as mi- White House defended its The Immigration Hub, a nizations, worried about a
nized predictions that more grants waded back and forth record. group of pro-immigration rush to the border exacerbat-
migrants might come to the across a river for supplies and strategists. ing public health and security
border, but he was firm that families slept in squalor. Im- “After four years of the concerns -- and at the same
policies instituted by Trump ages of agents on horseback Trump administration’s cha- Influential, more enforce- time, sending a message to
were cruel and inhumane corralling refugees went viral. os, cruelty and misplaced ment-minded voices in- asylum-seekers who had re-
and had to be jettisoned. priorities, the work to build cluded David Shahoulian, turned to Central America to
The administration began a a fair, orderly and humane who resigned last month make the dangerous journey
Biden took office on Jan. 20. massive expulsion of Haitians immigration system will take for personal reasons as as- back north.

GOP’s Carey, Democrats’ Brown win US House seats in Ohio

(AP) — Republican Mike Carey, policy consultant, in the 15th Con- She said she is ready to get to work. Brown’s election marks a win for es-
a Trump-backed coal lobbyist, gressional District, after the most tablishment Democrats, who sought
bested a two-term state lawmak- competitive race there in years. The Both winners will fill the remainder to defend the district against a take-
er to win an open U.S. House seat previous officeholder, Republican of their predecessors’ terms, which over by progressives. Her backers
in central Ohio on Tuesday, while Steve Stivers, resigned in April to run until January 2023. They must included Hillary Clinton, U.S. Rep.
Democrat Shontel Brown coast- become CEO of the Ohio Chamber face reelection again next year under Jim Clyburn and several labor unions.
ed to victory in a second up-for- of Commerce after a decade in Con- a congressional map that’s being re-
grabs congressional district in the gress. drawn to hold onto the seat. But victory may be short-lived.
Cleveland area.
Brown, 46, a Cuyahoga County Former President Donald Trump en-
The election results will leave Dem- Council member who also chairs the dorsed Carey, calling him a “coura-
ocrats with a 221-213 advantage county Democratic Party, won the geous fighter” and visiting the state to
over Republicans in Congress, with Cleveland-area House seat formerly campaign for him, as did former Vice
Brown and Carey each retaining a held by Marcia Fudge, who stepped President Mike Pence. Trump con-
seat for their respective party. A third down to become housing and urban gratulated Carey in a statement Tues-
open congressional seat in Florida, development secretary in the Biden day, saying he was proud to have en-
where primaries were being held administration. dorsed him “early and strongly” and
Tuesday, also is very likely to remain saying he would be “a great congress-
status quo and in Democratic hands. Brown defeated Republican Laverne man!” President Joe Biden endorsed
Gore, a business owner and activist, Russo, who raised more money in the
Carey, 50, defeated Democratic state in the heavily Democratic district that district than any Democrat in history.
Rep. Allison Russo, a public health stretches from Cleveland to Akron.