The US President Joe Biden government is anticipated to restart the Donald Trump-time ‘Remain in Mexico’ border program, according to a senior US government official.

Despite President Biden’s efforts to end the practice, a contentious Trump-time policy requiring American asylum seekers to remain in Mexico while their processed claims could be returned by the Joe Biden government as early as the coming week.

The policy compels non-Mexican migrants to Remain in Mexico until their immigration court dates in America. The policy was ended at the start of President Biden’s term and officially terminated months later, which Alejandro Mayorkas, the US Homeland Security Secretary, has called ‘inhumane.’ However, in August, a federal judge in Texas stated the Joe Biden administration had violated US law in how it had gone about unwinding the policy and required that it be returned.

Since then, America has been in negotiations with Mexico City to revive the migration policy. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

Consequently, the program, officially known as Migration Protection Protocols (MPP), is expected to start small, and those registered to be returned to Mexico could be given the option of receiving the coronavirus jab, according to a senior government official.

Moreover, a DHS spokesperson didn’t confirm the described timetable to Forbes, but did express that the US government is working on reimplementing the MPP program as soon as possible to be in compliance with the order of the court.

Why the Migrants Spike Under President Joe Biden?

The spokesperson added that they couldn’t do so until they’ve the independent promise from the Mexican Government to accept those they pursue to enroll in MPP. But, moreover, they would communicate to the court, and the public, the timing of reimplementation when they’re willing to do so.

Unlawful border crossings have risen steeply since Joe Biden took office on January 20. The number of encounters along the Mexico–United States border increased from about 78000 in January to over 213000 in July 2021 and has remained approximately 0.2M monthly since, according to the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Moreover, border encounters totaled less than fifty thousand monthly during much of last year.

While the migrants had been increasing since April last year, the numbers spiked abruptly after Joe Biden took office. Economic issues in Cuba, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and El Salvador worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing some to take on a long and risky trip North. Violence has also been given as the reason why several left their homes.

Additionally, there was a sense shared by few that the new American President would adopt a calmer border approach than his predecessor Trump. Although he’s avoided Donald Trump’s rhetoric, the US Leader frequently called on migrants, including asylum seekers, not to attempt the trip to America. There had also been a abrupt rise in the number of children crossing the US border.