The United State can represent safety for those facing hardship, war or persecution in their nation of origin. Every year, thousands of people come to the United States seeking asylum and a way to start a new, more peaceful, life.
Asylum-seekers from throughout Latin America often enter the United States via its southern border, which it shares with Mexico. Recently, federal officials have begun returning nonMexican individuals with pending asylum cases and hearings to Mexico.
Challenges to pushing asylum-seekers out of the country have arisen
The individuals waiting for their asylum hearings often wind up living in questionable neighborhoods and can become the victims of crime or homelessness due to inadequate law enforcement presence and infrastructure to support asylum-seekers in northern Mexico.
Many of these people have very few resources and no local connections to rely on as they wait interminably for their asylum hearings. Although there have been challenges to this policy brought by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and others to the United States Supreme Court, it appears the practice will continue until the final ruling on the matter.
The Supreme Court OK’d continuing to send asylum-seekers South
Those challenging this particular policy seemed hopeful that the Supreme Court would temporarily stop the transportation of asylum-seekers south of the border while they wait for hearings. However, that is not what the Supreme Court did.
Instead, for now, the practice known as the “Stay in Mexico” policy will continue uninterrupted until the court either validates the practice entirely or rules in a way that forces changes to the current system.
