Congressional Hearing: WOLA Testifies about “Remain in Mexico”

by Adam Isacson

Adam Isacson, WOLA’s Director for Defense Oversight, testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs at a hearing on the “Remain in Mexico” policy.

Isacson highlighted the human rights violations and dangers faced by migrants forced to remain in unsafe conditions while awaiting asylum processing and also emphasized the enrichment of organized crime in Mexico as a direct result of the policy. He called on policymakers to prioritize solutions that uphold the right to asylum and protect the human rights of migrants. 

Under this Trump era policy, the United States returned nearly 71,000 asylum seekers to Mexico to await their cases, exposing them to dangerous conditions, like sexual violence, extortion, and kidnappings. Meanwhile, it is estimated that the cartels profited millions of dollars off of migrants, taking advantage of their precarious situations. 

“People truly did suffer while remaining in Mexico. Nearly all of that abuse was the work of organized crime groups, or cartels. ” said Isacson in the hearing. “Remain in Mexico proved to be no substitute for a functional, well-resourced asylum system.”

Watch the full hearing here.
Read the summary or full testimony here.
Learn more about the impact of the “Remain in Mexico” policy here.

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