On October 5, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced new border enforcement measures and other secure and orderly processes.
Through a press release, the United States government announced its actions to enhance border security, limit irregular immigration, and create additional safe and orderly processes for people attempting to enter the country unlawfully.
On this day, the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala provided detailed information on the effects of such measures on border control. According to the information shared by the U.S. Embassy, these actions “1) expand legal pathways for safe, orderly, and humane migration to the U.S., and 2) impose new consequences for individuals who attempt to enter unlawfully.”
New Laws
President Joe Biden called on Congress to pass new immigration laws, arguing that its powers to address a growing crisis are limited. Biden noted that border policy and migration often cause arguments over how to handle migration and border crossings.
“It’s important to step back and look at the big picture,” Biden declared, mentioning the desire of migrants to pursue their own version of the American dream. The issue of immigration measures proves to be one of great tension for President Biden as it represents a political liability for him.
To complement these new measures, President Biden will visit El Paso, Texas, on January 8 to assess border control operations and meet with local officials.
Border Control
Within the new measures, an increase in resources was announced at the border to ensure operations against smuggling and support for the different border cities and non-governmental organizations.
Mexico and Guatemala have also considerably expanded their asylum system. People are encouraged to use this opportunity to migrate legally and avoid the dangerous consequences of irregular migration.
The Guatemalan government continues reaffirming its commitment to ensuring orderly and safe migration. During this year, more than a thousand people have benefited from the temporary work visa program for countries like the United States and Canada through the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
