Expelled migrants at the southern border of the United States are facing an uncertain future as the expiration of Title 42 looms.
Title 42, a policy implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, has allowed the expulsion of migrants seeking asylum without due process.
However, for many migrants, the hope of being granted asylum is unlikely to materialize.
Richard Allen, a correspondent for CBS, sheds light on the uncertainty that awaits those who are denied asylum.
Prior to the implementation of Title 42, more than half of all migrants seeking asylum in the United States were ultimately denied.
This disheartening statistic raises concerns for the current wave of migrants who are desperate to reach the safety of the US.
One such migrant is Kevin Hernaldo from Colombia, who made the journey to the southern border with his pregnant wife.
As a former police officer, Hernaldo’s life has been threatened by criminals in his homeland, compelling him to flee with his family.
However, if their asylum case is rejected, Hernaldo asserts that it would be too dangerous for them to return home.
Data from the nonpartisan Research Center Track reveals a significant increase in asylum claim rejections in recent years.
During the last year of the Obama administration in 2016, asylum claims were denied nearly 55% of the time.
This number rose to almost 74% in 2020 after the implementation of Title 42, indicating that many asylum seekers face the risk of having their cases denied and being sent back to their home countries.
Pedro Rios, a rights activist with the American Friends Service Committee, expresses concern for the uncertain fate of those denied asylum.
He emphasizes that individuals might be sent back to Mexico or their home countries, exposing them to danger, harm, or even death in some cases.
For Daniela, a Colombian native who identifies as a lesbian, the prospect of returning to her hometown is daunting.
She has endured intense bullying and hopes for a new life in the United States through the asylum process.
The fear of returning to the homophobia she experienced back home looms large if her asylum claim is rejected.
In recent developments, Mexico has agreed to allow the United States to send 30,000 migrants per month from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela who are denied entry.
The White House has also announced plans to expand its family reunification program, now available to migrants from Cuba and Haiti.
Additionally, US officials intend to accept around 100,000 migrants from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, but only if they already have family ties in the United States.
As the expiration of Title 42 approaches, expelled migrants find themselves facing an uncertain and challenging future.
The complex asylum process, coupled with the high rate of denials and potential dangers in their home countries, leaves these individuals in a vulnerable position, with their hopes for a better life hanging in the balance.
