Sofia Menchu

GUATEMALA CITY, (Reuters) – A senior United Nations official criticizes the United States’ deportation migrants at its southern border. Washington is urged to take swift action in order to reverse the hardline policies of the past administration.

Filippo Grandi (UNHCR High Commissioner for Refugees), asked President Joe Biden to work more with Mexico and Central America in order to provide alternatives to illegal immigration by increasing security and employment opportunities.

While we hear about many of these programs, there are very few on the ground at the moment. Grandi was the former Commissioner-General for the UN Agency for Palestine refugees. He spoke to Reuters in Guatemala late Monday. He also visited El Salvador and Mexico.

Biden pledged to end many of Trump’s strict immigration policies. Many of Trump’s most controversial measures, however, remain in effect, including Title 42 (also known as “Remain in Mexico”) and the Migrant Protection Protocols Programs (MPP), which allow quick deportations for migrants affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Grandi stated that the U.S. has been deporting people back to their homes very rapidly, however we are not happy with this.

He said that he was concerned about the political environment and that it could be hard for the administration to do what is right.

According to American Immigration Council data, more than 1.2 million immigrants have been deported by the United States since the beginning of the pandemic. Record highs have been set for detention at the U.S. border with Mexico.

Grandi suggested that Mexico too should provide alternatives for migrants who have passed through Mexico to reach the U.S. and are forced to seek asylum.

We say to Mexico that they should create separate channels for migrants and offer them migration options. Grandi said.