The Two Walls
Alejandro Cegarra
The New York Times
Mexico once had a reputation as a sanctuary for asylum seekers, embracing migrants with open arms, but over the last six years, the country has served as co-enforcer of U.S. anti-immigration measures. The once-welcoming haven has been involved in raids, refusals to grant humanitarian visas, expedited deportations, and the disbandment of migrant caravans, worsening the ordeal of the asylum seekers. Measures have been implemented in response to persistent demands by the American administration defending a tougher stand on migration policy.
The United States has “expedited removals” under the “Migrant Protection Protocol” (more commonly referred to as the “Remain in Mexico” plan). This was initially justified as health protection to control the COVID-19 pandemic under the federal rule known as Title 42, but was changed back to Title 8 which criminalizes asylum seekers making multiple attempts to cross into the United States.
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As a result, thousands of people have been forced to wait in perilous border cities, often in makeshift camps in dangerous areas on the Mexican side of the border and frequently under the control of corrupt authorities or drug cartels. The two countries have thus added further obstacles to the towering wall, leaving those most in need of asylum stranded, up against physical, psychological and administrative barriers that shut the gateway to the once promised path of refuge and safety. The current restrictions are a disheartening testament to the disconnect between the politics of power and the plight of the vulnerable.
As the world looks on, we must reflect on the far-reaching implications on the situation of the migrants; and politicians behind the policies must be held accountable. This project is a call to action, urging us to dismantle the barriers and obstacles in a system that traps migrants and asylum seekers in such an inextricable predicament. Only through collective understanding, empathy, and renewed commitment to human rights will we be able to forge a way towards a more compassionate future.
Alejandro Cegarra
