Temecula Lawmaker Slams Attempt To Lift 'Remain in Mexico' Policy

TEMECULA, CA — Rep. Darryl Issa, R-Temecula, Friday denounced the Biden administration's assertion that it will end, at the earliest opportunity, the Trump-era "Remain in Mexico" policy requiring undocumented migrants to stay south of the border pending review of their asylum applications.

"The administration's decision to end the proven and effective policy is all the nation needs to know about the president's commitment to security and stability along our southern border. He doesn't believe in it," Issa said in a statement. "From the day that Joe Biden took office, he has worked to dismantle successful policies and upend hard-won international agreements that were stemming the flow of illegal immigrants and bringing order to asylum claims. Now, from Florida to California and every border region in between, that is all being thrown away."

Issa was reacting to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas' memorandum stating the Remain in Mexico policy, formally known as "Migrant Protection Protocols," will be rescinded if the federal judge who reinstated it in September withdraws the preliminary injunction he signed ordering the administration to put it back into effect, or an appellate court overrules him.

"MPP not only undercuts the administration's ability to implement critically needed and foundational changes to the immigration system, but it also fails to provide the fair process and humanitarian protections that all persons deserve," Mayorkas said.

In his first week in office, Biden signed executive orders abrogating former President Donald Trump's immigration controls, including Remain in Mexico and border wall construction.

"With today's announcement from his Department of Homeland Security, President Biden makes clear once and for all, he isn't serious about reducing the number of illegal migrants, trafficked children or tons of deadly drugs that are entering our country in record numbers and unprecedented amounts," Issa said.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said recently that the "situation at the border is the result of a broken (immigration) system" and that the president was relying on "all of his experiences to inform how he governs, how he approaches challenges."

A letter co-authored by Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Corona, and sent to the administration in September said that more than 1.3 million migrants have been apprehended entering the U.S. illegally between January and September, setting a record and representing a 386% increase compared to the same period in 2020.

"The crisis at our border is only getting worse because of President Biden's open border policies," Calvert said. "The humanitarian and national security disaster occurring along our border in Texas is the direct result of actions taken by the president."