Immigration of Haitians to the United States, a new nightmare for Joe Biden

A series of photographs with American agents on horseback, targeting Haitian migrants who were running desperately in Texas, became the nightmare by Joe Biden.

Not only is the president under fierce attacks from Republicans and his own party: this Thursday the special envoy of his government resigned for Haiti, to protest against the “inhuman” treatment of migrants who undergo massive deportations.

The crisis has erupted in recent days. Thousands of Haitians fleeing their countryTorn apart by civil war and natural disasters, they sought refuge in the United States. Many of them do not even come from Haiti, but come on long and dangerous journeys from Chile and Brazil (where they were received without a visa), to filter on American soil crossing the border with Mexico.

But in America they weren’t welcome. There they were led by Texan officers on horseback, hitting them with ribbons, in photos that circulated around the world and frightened human rights organizations and the Democratic Party itself, who severely criticized President Biden.

Grouped and piled up In a camp under a bridge between Del Río and Ciudad Acuña in Mexico, some 14,000 people were counted, with entire families with young children in plastic tents, no toilets and little food.

The drama in Mexico

In addition, they have been warned by Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas that the borders “are not open” and that they cannot be granted asylum. Now the camp has been significantly reduced, as many Haitians have been deported and others released to the United States. with orders to appear before immigration authorities.

In this context, Daniel Foote, a career diplomat who had been appointed by Biden in July as special envoy for Haiti after the assassination of the Haitian president, called on Thursday for his resignation ”with deep disappointment and our apologies to those seeking critical changes. “

“I will not be associated with the inhuman decision and counterproductive for the United States to deport thousands of Haitian refugees and illegal immigrants to Haiti, a country where American officials are locked in secure barracks due to the danger armed gangs pose in daily life He wrote.

“Our political approach to Haiti remains deeply flawed,” he added.

Meanwhile, the State Department criticized Foote for resigning at such a delicate time and dismissed accusations that his advice was ignored. He added that the role of the president’s advisers is to give him the best possible advice. “No idea is ignoredBut not all ideas are good. ”

Besides the resignation with a strong tone from the official, the White House faces strong criticism from both sides.

Criticisms

On the one hand, Republicans accuse Biden promote “laxity” at the borders. On the other hand, Democrats and immigrant advocacy groups say deporting thousands of Haitians without giving them the opportunity to seek asylum violates American principles. And that the deportations send them back to a country where the situation is extremely vulnerable.

The migrants were deported under the authority of Title 42, a policy promoted by the administration of Donald Trump and which Biden did not suspend. International immigrant, medical and human rights organizations have called for an end to this “dangerous and harmful” policy.

Between Sunday and Tuesday there were 10 deportation flights to Haiti, according to Haitian officials. There will be seven daily flights, which would mean one of the biggest evictions in decades.

The White House, meanwhile, is trying to tone down criticism. Spokeswoman Jen Psaki announced Thursday that border patrol officers in Del Rio, Texas, they will no longer use horses after the publication of photographs of officers on horseback charging Haitian migrants. Psaki called the images “horrible and horrible”.

Additionally, Joe Biden’s government officials met with civil rights leaders in the last few hours to review the incident and continue the investigation, said Psaki, who nevertheless stressed: “It is certainly not an open border.”

The truth is, this crisis is hitting Biden, at a time when his popularity is on the decline. Since the beginning of September, after the controversial withdrawal from Afghanistan, his image has been declining day by day. Today he has a 46% approval rating, based on RealClearPolitics average.