US hopes to solve migrant crisis with processing centers in Latin America

By opening migration processing centers in three Latin American countries, the Biden administration is trying to persuade people not to make the arduous journey to the border.

As the Biden administration struggles to confront a humanitarian and political crisis on America's doorstep, it is increasingly focused more on keeping migrants away from the U.S.-Mexico border by establishing migration processing centers in central and Mexican regions. South America.

But the program is off to a rocky start, with demand for appointments far outstripping supply, leading to periodic closures of the portal in line and limits the number of candidates in certain countries. due to fears that the centers would force migrants to cross their own borders.

The centers, in Colombia, Costa Rica and others planned in Guatemala, have become a primary focus of the president's migration strategy, U.S. officials said, and the administration is already considering expanding the program to other countries in the region, including opening a similar office in Mexico.

The program, known as the Safe Mobility Initiative, is “the most ambitious plan I have seen,” said Sean Garcia, deputy refugee coordinator at the U.S. Embassy in Colombia, which has worked on migration for more than a decade.

But even some officials involved in the initiative acknowledge that It's a modest response to a huge challenge.

More people — 360,000 as of earlier this month — have already crossed the Darién Gap this year more than all last year. And in August, about 91,000 families at the U.S. southern border were arrested after crossing illegally, a monthly record.

« The Effect on Migration across the Darién will be minimal, if any. at all,” Francisco Coy, Colombia’s deputy foreign minister, said of the U.S. program. “Let’s be frank. »

Since its launch in June, the program has resulted in approximately 3,600 migrants out of approximately 40,000 applicants being allowed to enter the United States. United States, according to American officials.

A National Security Council spokeswoman, Adrienne Watson, said it “will take time to develop the program on the scale we want. .”

“We ensure that services are provided in an orderly and efficient manner, while being able to improve processes,” she said. added.

< figure class="img-sz-large css-hxpw2c e1g7ppur0" aria-label="media" role="group">ImageThe Darién Gap, a thick jungle between Colombia and Panama, has seen more than 360,000 people cross it this year. Credit...Federico Rios for the New York Times

Alex Díaz, his wife and 4-year-old son were about to board a boat in May to join Darién. Gap, a brutal expanse of jungle connecting North and South America.

They had spent about $80 on tickets, but quickly abandoned their plans when they learned there was a much safer option to try. to reach the United States: The new Biden administration plans to open offices in several countries, including Colombia, where migrants, like the Díaz family, could apply for entry.

Once online applications opened in June, Mr. Díaz, who is Venezuelan, quickly signed up for an interview appointment.

He has not been heard from since.

The program aims to allow legal entry into the United States to qualified individuals seeking refugee status, family reunification or another temporary status called parole. It does not grant asylum, which generally must be requested once inside the U.S. border or at a port of entry.

Migration constitutes one of President Biden's thorniest challenges and is emerging. ..