Several caravans with thousands of migrants from Haiti and Central America are traveling through Mexico towards our southern border.
“The needs of the humans that are seeking safety and security within the U.S. borders, that is our priority and that informs all of the actions that we take,” said Faisal Al-Juburi, the vice president of philanthropy for RAICES, a San Antonio based immigrant rights group RAICES.
It’s been a busy year for this organization.
“This year alone we have worked with over 14,000 unaccompanied children in emergency facilities, providing ‘Know Your Rights’ presentations and legal intakes as well as legal representation and referrals,” Al-Juburi said.
Recently RAICES received a $10,000 grant from the global talent firm Aquent.
They plan to use the money to promote the end of Title 42, which keeps migrants from coming into the country based on COVID protocols and the end to ‘Remain in Mexico’ Policy.
The Biden Administration pulled the plug on a the Migrant Protection Protocols couple weeks ago but the policy is still tied up in court.
“For us, what we are really looking at more than anything, is the need to address some of the egregious border policies that continue to exist that were put into place by the last administration and are continuing to exist under this administration,” Al-Juburi said.
Proponents of those policies believe they are essential to slow the surge of migrants coming across.
Reports throughout Mexico show thousands of migrants are again marching north in large numbers, meaning we could see a repeat of what happened in border towns like Del Rio.
We reached out to Customs and Border Protection to see how it is preparing.
CBP responded with a statement: “CBP plans for all possible scenarios based off information on the operations of smugglers or movements of migrants. Our posture and response are based on comprehensive analysis, and not on any single report. CBP stands ready to address any potential increase in migrant encounters as we work to ensure safety and security of our borders, while managing a fair and orderly immigration system.”
On Thursday, President Biden will be meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Andrés Manuel López at the White House.
It’s the first time the leaders of the three North American countries will meet in person since 2016.
Immigration is expected to be the major topic of discussion.