As the Americas Summit begins, another migrant caravan from Mexico is making its way toward the U.S. border. As this event begins, many regional leaders are conspicuously absent. But there are those who are doing their part. Many are walking in solidarity with the migrants, hoping that walking in large numbers will offer better protection and success.
The leaders of the caravan have been meeting with the migrants, who are requesting help from the United States. Some are Venezuelans who want the United States to resolve the crisis in Venezuela. Other migrants are seeking asylum in the United States. Some are looking for a better life, seeking refuge from persecution in their home country. While they’re waiting for a visa to enter the U.S., many of them have been unable to do so because of the lack of opportunities in their home country.
In the midst of all this, President Biden is expected to announce a regional pact on migration. He’s also expected to announce a regional agreement to admit up to 4,000 refugees from the Americas by 2028. Spain is set to double its labor pathways for Hondurans. Biden has made it clear that the United States is willing to help them, but it’s not enough to just let them in.
The United States and Mexico are facing challenges. The caravan is part of the summit. Mexico’s government has been aggressive in dissolving the caravans. The first caravan was estimated to have thousands of migrants, and the second one was even larger. As the Americas Summit starts, the US government and the Biden administration are seeking to foster regional cooperation in migration.
President Biden will kick off the summit Wednesday. During the summit, he’ll officially announce the “Americas Partnership,” a five-pronged approach to bolster regional economies. It will address inequality, economic opportunity and equity. Biden will also announce a health initiative to prepare for future pandemics and a Caribbean community partnership to tackle climate change. Biden will also sign the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration. The document reflects an ambitious hemispheric consensus on the migration crisis.
While Biden is at the summit, Mexico is boycotting the event. Mexico and three Central American countries have already refused to send representatives to the summit. These countries have a long history of neglecting migrants and use of immigration as a political tool. Biden’s letter, though, may be a sign of a shift in Mexican policy.
While bipartisan leaders are addressing the issue of illegal immigration, the migrant caravan continues to approach the U.S. border. The caravan, which includes up to 5,000 people, has been traveling from southern Mexico to the northern border. Biden has called for increased temporary work visas and increased support for host countries. The Obama administration has also reversed the asylum rules, allowing migrants to cross the border more quickly.
