With news that the U.S. is expanding a policy that allows migrants to be expelled into Mexico, Sonoran officials say they are preparing for the possibility of more migrants being sent back to the state.
Last week, the Biden administration announced changes to the U.S. asylum process, including the expansion of Title 42 — a pandemic-era policy that allows the U.S. to turn away migrants and asylum seekers at the border. As part of that change, Mexico has agreed to accept 30,000 people each month from Haiti, Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela.
Sonoran Gov. Alfonso Durazo said in a press conference Tuesday that the state is preparing additional shelter spaces to accommodate a possible increase of people being expelled from the United States — though he said he doesn’t expect most to be sent to Sonora.
The expansion of Title 42 has drawn criticism from migrant advocacy groups who say the policy violates domestic and international asylum laws, and that those sent back to Mexico face inhumane conditions and well-documented dangers.
