The recent executive order issued by President Biden restricting asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border has left many migrants like Fabiola Yépez in a state of uncertainty and fear. Fabiola, a 20-year-old mother from Venezuela, was sheltering under a bridge in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, with her toddler son when she first heard about the new policy.
Despite witnessing U.S. soldiers firing nonlethal projectiles at migrants the day before, Fabiola planned to attempt crossing into the United States just hours after the order took effect. She expressed her concerns, saying, “Maybe it’s not like what they’re saying, and they won’t turn us back. I’m afraid, especially with my child in my arms.”
The new directive allows the U.S. to temporarily close the border to asylum-seekers when daily illegal crossings hit a certain threshold. This has caused confusion among migrants and humanitarian workers along the border, with many trying to understand how they will be affected by the measure.
Juan Fierro García, the director of a migrant shelter in Ciudad Juárez, expressed concerns about the strain the new policy could place on local shelters if large numbers of migrants are turned away. He noted that while there are relatively few migrants in the city currently, the situation could change quickly.
Some migrants have still been able to enter the U.S. under limited exceptions to the new restrictions, but others have been turned away, leading to further uncertainty and anxiety among those seeking asylum.
Mexican immigration experts have criticized the executive order, warning that it could put asylum seekers at risk and create chaos at the border. President López Obrador of Mexico denied that the measure would create problems for Mexican officials, but the impact of the policy remains to be seen.
As migrants like Fabiola Yépez navigate the changing landscape at the border, the future remains uncertain. The implementation of the new policy and its effects on asylum seekers will continue to unfold in the coming days and weeks.
