Kristina cooke, Mica Roseberg and Caitlin Harra

NOGALES (Mexico) – Leo ran from his southern Mexican hometown after his uncle was killed by gang members. He received threats of death. He, his wife, and the two kids fled their home in southern Mexico to seek asylum.

His hope was that he’d finally be granted his opportunity on Monday after waiting for months. But, even though U.S. border opened to COVID-19-vaccinated travelers, asylum seekers were still denied entry.

Leo, 23, and his loved ones approached Nogales, Mexico’s port of entry with his vaccination card and his wife. However, a border official informed them that they could not go in and they would have to seek asylum.

Leo stated, “I feel dispirited” and was sad to be leaving the group he fled. Donald Trump’s policies are being continued by President Joe Biden.

Biden maintained a controversial U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Order (CDC), first issued by Trump’s Republican predecessor in March 2020. It allows for migrants to be expelled immediately without the opportunity to claim asylum.

Biden’s administration stated that Title 42 (the CDC’s Order) remains essential to keep COVID-19 from spreading. This is because asylum seekers at the border are being processed in crowded areas.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, any foreign national trying to enter the United States with no proper documentation or vaccinations will face expulsion.

Biden’s administration has been criticized by advocates for maintaining the expulsion policy while borders reopen.

Noah Gottschalk from Oxfam America is the global policy lead for Oxfam America. He said that the idea that a vaccinated asylum seekinger presents more risk than a tourist who has been vaccinated is ridiculous. Gottschalk claimed that the exclusion of unvaccinated asylum seekers strengthens the argument for the group that the policy does not concern public health.

Federal Judge ordered the Biden Administration to cease expelling families units (parents or legal guardians that arrive with their children) under Title 42. Appeal was filed by the administration, which led to a lower court putting the decision on hold while the case progresses.

More than 1300 doctors signed letters to CDC last month urging them to repeal the expulsion order at the border. They claimed that it was ill-conceived and did not provide sufficient epidemiological data to support it.

Human Rights First, a New York nonprofit, has reported more than 7,600 kidnappings of migrants in Mexico since January when Biden assumed office.

Leo used to work in construction in Nogales to pay rent. But he feels his earnings do not provide enough for him and his family. He stated that they abuse people because they don’t know they are from this area.

When gunshots are heard at night, he is concerned about the possibility of his children being hit by a bullet. U.S. State Department advises Americans to reconsider traveling to Sonora (Mexico), where Nogales can be found due to crimes and kidnapping.

Leo stated, “We flew from a danger area.” It is exactly the same here.