ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2021 2 People discouraged from coming to US Biden faces pressure in new course on immigration fter a weeklong bus ride from Honduras, Isabel Osorio Medina ar- announced official steps to end Trump-era agreements with Honduras, Trump administration officials believed many asylum claims were Arived in northern Mexico with the hope President Joe Biden would El Salvador and Guatemala that required many asylum-seekers to seek fraudulent or lacked merit, submitted by people simply looking to re- make it easier for people like him to get into the United States. refuge in one of those countries instead of the US. main in the US But the issue is murky as tens of thousands flee violent “It seems the new president wants to help migrants,” Osorio said as “To be clear, these actions do not mean that the US border is open,” gangs, natural disasters and political upheaval. he got ready to check in to a cheap hotel in downtown Tijuana before Blinken said. “While we are committed to expanding legal pathways for The Biden administration has signed several executive orders on im- heading to the US “They’re saying he is going to help, but I don’t know protection and opportunity here and in the region, the United States is a migration, including allowing in more refugees and establishing a task for sure how much is true or not.” country with borders and laws that must be enforced.” force to find the parents of about 600 children who were separated under The 63-year-old is among thousands of people who have come to the That message hasn’t reached everyone. Trump and still haven’t been reunited. US-Mexico border with the hope they will be able to ask for asylum and More people have been arriving at a encampment in Matamoros, Mex- But it hasn’t ended a public health order Trump issued at the start of make their way into the US now that former President Donald Trump is ico, a dangerous city just south of the Texas border where hundreds of the coronavirus pandemic that allows US Customs and Border Protec- no longer in office. asylum-seekers have been waiting under Trump’s “Remain in Mexico” tion to immediately expel nearly everyone, including asylum-seekers. While Biden has taken some major steps in his first weeks in office to program. Psaki said the government is still working to develop a “humane, com- reverse Trump’s hardline immigration policies, his administration hasn’t It’s possible even more may come after the Biden administration an- prehensive process” to evaluate people coming to the US. lifted some of the most significant barriers to asylum-seekers. nounced Friday that it would slowly allow an estimated 25,000 people to “Asylum processes at the border will not occur immediately,” she In fact, it’s discouraging people from coming to the country, hoping enter the US as their cases are reviewed. The first wave is expected Feb 19. said. “It will take time to implement.” to avoid what happened under both Trump and former President Barack Walter Valenzuela, a 37-year-old Honduran, said he had been waiting Alan Bersin, who held top positions dealing with border security dur- Obama — border agents getting overwhelmed by migrants, including in Tijuana, across the border from San Diego, for months for a chance to ing the Clinton and Obama administrations, warned that Biden is headed many Central Americans with children. either seek asylum or risk an illegal crossing. for a crisis if he releases all asylum-seekers into the United States. That “Now is not the time to come,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki For years, asylum-seekers who met the initial threshold of demonstrat- would invite fraud and abuse, he said. said at a recent briefing, “and the vast majority of people will be turned ing a “credible fear” of persecution in their homeland could generally “There’s such a pressing sense in the advocate community that is con- away.” stay in the US until an immigration judge decided whether they qualified trolling the Biden immigration agenda — they want to reverse all Trump Secretary of State Antony Blinken struck a similar tone on Feb. 6 as he for permanent residency, which can take years. actions,” he said. (AP) Former president Donald Trump gives a thumbs-up to supporters as he rides by in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Feb 15, 2021. People lined up the street on President’s Day to show support for Trump who lost the 2020 election to President Joe Biden. (AP) Trump looks to reassert himself after acquittal ‘Trump-plus the way back in 2022’ onald Trump took in the win at Mar-a-Lago, surrounded by friends “In the months ahead I have much to share with you, and I look for- the official find enough votes to overturn Biden’s victory. Dand family. His lawyers celebrated with hugs and smiles. One joked, ward to continuing our incredible journey together to achieve American In New York, Attorney General Letitia James is investigating whether “We’re going to Disney World!” greatness for all of our people,” he said. Trump and his company improperly inflated the value of his assets on Now acquitted in his second Senate impeachment trial, Trump is prepar- Sen. Lindsey Graham, who spoke with Trump on Saturday night, ac- annual financial statements in order to secure loans and obtain tax ben- ing for the next phase of his post-presidency life. Feeling emboldened by the knowledged that Trump is “mad at some folks,” but also “ready to move efits. Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. continues his own trial’s outcome, he is expected to reemerge from a self-imposed hibernation on and rebuild the Republican Party” and “excited about 2022.” investigation, which has included grand jury testimony. at his club in Palm Beach, Florida, and is eyeing ways to reassert his power. In their conversations, Graham has stressed to Trump, who has threat- “He didn’t get away with anything — yet,” McConnell, R-Ky., after But after being barred from Twitter, the former president lacks the ened to start his own party to punish disloyal Republicans, that the GOP the vote. “We have a criminal justice system in this country. We have social media bullhorn that fueled his political rise. And he’s confronting needs him to win. civil litigation. And former presidents are not immune from being ac- a Republican Party deeply divided over the legacy of his jarring final “I said, ‘Mr. President, this MAGA movement needs to continue. We countable by either one.” days in office, culminating in the Jan 6 storming of the Capitol. Searing need to unite the party. Trump-plus is the way back in 2022,’” Graham, McConnell voted to acquit Trump on the grounds the trial was un- video images of the day played on loop during his impeachment trial, R-S.C., told “Fox News Sunday.” constitutional because he is no longer in office, but insisted, “There’s which ended Saturday. “My goal is to win in 2022 to stop the most radical agenda I’ve seen no question — none — that President Trump is practically and morally Trump remains popular among the GOP base, but many Republicans coming out of the Democratic presidency of Joe Biden. We can’t do that responsible for provoking the events of the day.” in Washington have cooled to him. Never before have so many members without Donald Trump, so he’s ready to hit the trail and I’m ready to That sharp rebuke from his once-loyal defender underscores how of a president’s party — seven GOP senators, in his case — voted for his work with him,” Graham said. dramatically Trump’s stock has fallen in Washington since his first im- removal in a Senate trial. Graham said Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who voted peachment trial just over a year ago. But the desire to be rid of Trump Some may work to counter efforts by Trump to support extreme can- to acquit but then delivered a scalding denunciation of Trump, “got a is not shared across the country, where Republicans who have dared to didates in next year’s congressional primaries. load off a chest, obviously.” Graham said later in the interview: “If you admonish him have faced swift rebuke. Undeterred, friends and allies expect Trump to resume friendly me- want to get something off your chest, fine, but I’m into winning.” Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., was forced to defend her third-in-line lead- dia interviews after weeks of silence. He has met with political aides to At his Palm Beach club on Saturday night, Trump was in a joyous ership position after she voted in favor of impeachment. On Saturday, discuss efforts to help Republicans try to take control of the House and mood as he enjoyed dinner on a patio packed with people. After a mel- Louisiana’s Republican Party quickly censured Sen. Bill Cassidy, one Senate in the 2022 midterms elections. He remains fixated on exacting low last several weeks, one member described a party atmosphere not of the seven Republicans senators who voted for Trump’s conviction. revenge on Republicans who supported his impeachment or resisted his felt since before the election. In an interview Sunday with ABC’s “This Week,” Cassidy seemed at efforts to overturn the results of the November election won by Demo- Still, Trump isn’t in the clear yet. No longer protected by a Justice peace with his decision.