Michel, a Venezuelan migrant stuck in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, says with frustration, “We don’t know what’s happening,” as he, like many others, is trapped in a legal quagmire trying to cross into the United States. The confusion only grows as the Biden administration prepares to lift Title 42, a rule implemented by his predecessor Donald Trump to prevent the spread of COVID, which, in practice, resulted in the expulsion of nearly all undocumented migrants attempting to enter the United States.
The legal repertoire for entering the US, expanded in anticipation of the end of Title 42, is difficult for undocumented individuals to understand, often leaving them with no options for return after selling all their belongings to pay “coyotes” (traffickers) who promise to help them cross the border.
One thing seems clear to most: with Title 8, not only will there be expulsions to Mexico, but there will also be a significant increase in deportations, a five-year ban on entry for offenders, and criminal proceedings for repeat offenders.
Michel, an immigrant from Venezuela, arrived in Ciudad Juárez a month ago after navigating the dangerous Darien jungle between Colombia and Panama and the legal requirements of the Mexican government.
As the AFP toured the refugee camp where Michel and others are living, an altar was erected in memory of the 40 people who died on March 27 in a migrant detention center fire in Ciudad Juárez, seven of whom were from Venezuela.
Gloria, a 56-year-old Guatemalan woman who also only wants to be identified by her first name, does not understand the difference between a shelter and an asylum. She just wants to protect herself from threats from her ex-partner.
Amnesty International recently reported that the mandatory use of CBP One violates the right to asylum as it limits access to literacy and internet-capable mobile devices. The confusion pushes some migrants to cross the Rio Grande and surrender to the border patrol to seek asylum, an option that Kevin, a 34-year-old Ecuadorian farmer, is considering.