Several asylum seekers tell US judge they’re afraid to wait in Mexico while their cases are heard in the United States.
Several asylum seekers who are being forced to wait in Mexico while their cases wind through US immigration court told a judge on Tuesday that they are afraid to return to Mexico as they await their next hearing – a development that introduces a new wrinkle to a major US policy shift.
The seven cases being heard in a downtown San Diego courtroom are among the first to advance under the Trump administration policy that calls for people seeking asylum in the US to be held in Mexico.
The initial appearances came three days before a federal judge in San Francisco is set to hear arguments by advocacy groups to halt the policy.
Attorney Robyn Barnard asked for access – at least by telephone – to any interviews conducted with her Honduran client with US officials about whether his fears of returning to Mexico are well-founded.
Jason Aguilar, an attorney for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, didn’t object but deferred the request to other agencies within the Department of Homeland Security.
Customs and Border Protection said it wouldn’t comment due to pending litigation, and Citizenship and Immigration Services had no immediate comment.
The developments raised more questions about the administration’s new approach to handling the claims of people who say they fear returning to their homelands because of danger related to race, religion, political beliefs, nationality or membership in particular social group.
The administration hopes that making asylum seekers wait in Mexico will discourage some claims and help reduce an immigration court backlog of more than 800,000 cases. Currently, families are typically released in the US with notices to appear in court and can stay until their cases are resolved, which can take years.
Critics say asylum seekers are forced to wait in unsafe environments and will struggle to find legal advice while in Mexico. Tijuana had more than 2,500 homicides last year.
