In the US, racism trumps over democracy

Although a nation of immigrants, the US government gives precedence to racism over democracy. The present-day America is no longer aligned with Abraham Lincoln's ideology of a government that is of, by and for the people, given the Biden administration decided to restore Trump's racist "Remain in Mexico" policy, also referred to as Migration Protection Protocols (MPP). This decision came into effect following the US District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk—a Trump nominated candidate—requiring Biden to reimplement the policy.

To give context, the policy came into effect in 2019 under Trump, and posits that people seeking asylum would be required to stay in Mexico until the court provides verdicts on their cases. The waiting period for these cases may take up to several months, which further casts a shadow of despair among minorities trying to escape persecution. According to The New York Times, Trump forced nearly 60,000 asylum seekers to stay in Mexico while their cases were processed—a move that further jeopardized thousands of lives at the hands of corrupt and violent groups.

Real-time data by Human Rights First indicates that people died in the past after being sent back to Mexico while their cases got processed. The report explains that a Salvadoran asylum seeker was executed in Tijuana in November 2019 after the Department of Homeland Security sent him back under the Remain in Mexico policy. Similarly, a 19-year-old Cuban was shot dead in May of this year just a few days before his case was to be processed.
Human Rights First also reported that more than 1,500 incidents of rape, kidnappings and torment have been recorded following expulsion of Mexicans at the border. Considering the data, it is evident that the policy puts families in harm's way. Perhaps a hidden agenda of the Trump government was to deliberately hold off thousands of families in Mexico, and have their lives compromised in an effort to prevent them from entering the US.

The world is already a witness to Trump's dislike for Mexicans, so the theory holds merit. Here is a man who campaigned to build a wall on the US-Mexico border. He also went on record, saying, "They're (Mexicans) are bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists. And some, I assume, are good people."

These key policies—Title 42 and Remain in Mexico—violate fundamental human rights of minorities trying to escape terror. It jeopardizes their freedom and personal security at the cost of US politics. It is unfathomable that Biden would reimpose a policy he got rid of in the first place, all on account of pressure from the Supreme Court. This is not the first time that Biden has followed into Trump's footsteps. Last year, it was reported that at least 1,000 Chinese students were barred J-1 and F-1 student visas under Proclamation 10043 implemented by Donald Trump. President Joe Biden kept this proclamation intact without taking any action.

A US university representative held that the proclamation was designed to punish Chinese institutions. Even the BBC went on to report that the United States cautioned that not all students from China were "normal" and that some were working as agents under the Chinese government. These misconstrued realities are an indication of sinophobia directed toward China for political reasons. It is no surprise that Biden is taking discriminatory policies in his stride to prevent innocent people at the border from entering the US.

It is equally ironic that Biden would prioritize the Remain in Mexico policy given that he ran on the promise of rebuilding America's broken immigration system. In fact, Biden strongly opposed Migration Protection Protocols last year. In a tweet, he said, "Donald Trump's "Remain in Mexico" policy is dangerous, inhumane, and goes against everything we stand for as a nation of immigrants. My administration will end it." With the reemergence of this policy, the Biden government violated its campaign promise that sought to help minorities lead better, securer lives in the US. What is particularly surprising is President Biden's inability to strongly negotiate and confront the supporters of the two controversial immigration policies, which makes him seem more unpresidential.

On top of this policy being barbaric, it also violates an individual's right to seek asylum. According to International Rescue Committee, the US Congress implemented components of the Geneva Refugee Convention, including the definition of a refugee, into the US immigration law. The outlet adds that asylum is a form of protection granted to people who can prove that they are incapable of returning to their country on account of persecution on the basis of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. If Mexicans or Haitians are fleeing persecution, and they are instead being denied entry into the US, the government is violating their right to attain asylum.

Another Trump policy, which affects immigration, is Title 42. It is currently in effect under President Biden. Title 42 makes seeking asylum in the United States more challenging for individuals. According to Amnesty International, more than 7,647 violent attacks have been recorded against people expelled to the Mexican government. Under Title 42, the Biden administration got rid of 8,000 Haitians this year, despite knowledge of Haiti's sociopolitical crisis.

In light of these major developments taking effect under Biden, it appears as if Trump's racist policies will continue to influence America's fragmented immigration system. The US is in dire need of forming a comprehensive, all-embracing immigration system that would fast-track asylum statuses and grant asylees their right to security. Treating them unfairly under the umbrella of racist policies, forced on Biden by a Trump appointee, would further prove detrimental to thousands of families fleeing terror and hardships.

Haider Rifaat is a features writer for OK! Pakistan, the international edition of OK! Magazine. He is also a writer for the Parisian media outlet Arabian Moda and a contributing writer for the Montreal-based Flanelle Magazine. Haider is currently pursuing his Master's degree in Communication from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

The opinions expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of China Daily and China Daily website.

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