There are no migrants left at the border camp in Texas where, just days ago, nearly 15,000 people – mostly Haitians – met with asylum seekers.
It’s a dramatic change from last Saturday, when the number of immigrants peaked with confusion over the Biden administration’s policies and misinformation on social media converging at the border crossing between del Rio, Texas, and Ciudad Acuna, Mexico.
At a press conference, Del Rio Mayor Bono Lozano called it «exceptional news.»
Many face expulsion because they are not covered by the protections that the Biden administration recently provided to the more than 100,000 Haitian immigrants already in the United States, due to security concerns and social unrest in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.
The devastating earthquake of 2020 forced many of them to leave their homeland.
The United States and Mexico seemed eager to end the increasingly politicized humanitarian situation that had led to the resignation of the US special envoy to Haiti and widespread outrage after images surfaced of border agents turning their horses to block and forcibly transfer migrants.
On Friday, President Joe Biden said the way customers used their horses was «appalling» and that «people would pay» as a result.
Agents were assigned administrative tasks during the management investigation.
«There will be consequences,» Biden told reporters. «It’s embarrassing, but it’s beyond embarrassment — it’s dangerous, it’s wrong, it’s sending the wrong message around the world and sending the wrong message home. It’s simply not who we are.»
Meanwhile, Homeland Security officials said about 2,000 Haitians have quickly been expelled on 17 flights since Sunday and more could be expelled in the coming days as pandemic forces deny people the opportunity to seek asylum.
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Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mallorcas said the United States has allowed about 12,400 to enter the country, at least temporarily, while they file cases with an immigration judge to remain in the country under asylum laws or for some other legal reason.
They could eventually be rejected and subject to removal.
Mr. Mallorcas said about 8,000 immigrants «have decided to return to Mexico voluntarily» and that about 5,000 immigrants are in the custody of the Department of Homeland Security and are being processed to determine whether they will be expelled or allowed to press their claim for legal residence.
A US official familiar with the situation said seven flights were scheduled to Haiti on Friday, six on Saturday and seven on Sunday.