The 800 residents of the closed migrant camp in Mexico reach the United States

Mexican immigration officials reportedly closed a border camp for Central American migrants on Sunday – sending most of the 800 residents to the United States regardless of COVID-19 infection status – following the termination of former President Donald Trump’s “Stay in Mexico” policy. .

Numerous asylum seekers have arrived near Brownsville, Texas, where local officials said on Monday there were a growing number of infected migrants and nothing was being done to enforce quarantines.

Newly released migrants were not all counted among the latest positive COVID-19 results, but may add to the growing figure.

As of Saturday, 185 of the 1,553 migrants tested at Brownsville’s central bus station since January 26 had tested positive for the virus, city spokesman Felipe Romero told Fox News.

Camp in Matamoros, Mexico, closed after Trump’s “Stay in Mexico” policy ended for Central Americans – under which about 71,000 Central American asylum seekers awaited a decision in the north from Mexico.

Republicans say Biden sparked a crisis at the US-Mexico border by sending a message that new migrants will be welcomed into the country – although the White House has said migrants should wait to come later due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Thursday it was not the federal government’s job to test migrants for COVID-19 before their release. She said it was the responsibility of state and local governments, and that nonprofits in some cases have “reserved hotel blocks” to help accommodate people with COVID-19.

“When migrants are placed in alternatives to detention, their COVID-19 test – our policy is that the COVID-19 test be carried out at national and local level and with the help of NGOs and local governments,” said said Psaki.

“And that is definitely something that our policy is to make sure that is done, concluded before they are even moved to go and stay with family members or other people they may know.” although their cases are judged. “

Texas GOP Governor Greg Abbott last week accused Biden of allowing the “import” of COVID-19 via the release of migrants. The governor tweeted: “The Biden administration recklessly releases hundreds of illegal immigrants who have COVID into communities in Texas. Administrator Biden. must IMMEDIATELY end this ruthless act that exposes Texans and Americans to COVID. “

Proponents of the “Stay in Mexico” policy claim that it deters asylum seekers from entering the United States knowing that their request for persecution is likely to be rejected.

Opponents of the policy say northern Mexico can be just as dangerous as the crime-ravaged Central American countries that candidates are fleeing.

Migrants who were once detained in border camps in Mexico while being processed by U.S. courts for entry are no longer being detained as part of the Biden administration’s withdrawal from policy.

“United States President Biden is helping people because it’s necessary, you know,” Mario, a Honduran migrant who spent eight months in a camp with his family and is still awaiting his death, told Fox News. entry into the United States.

The White House admitted on Monday that it was not doing enough to discourage people from seeking illegal entry into the United States.

Psaki admitted the failures after being pressed to deal with the situation by the administration.

“I would say that it is clear that we have to work more to get the message across and be very clear, this is not the time to come,” she said, before reiterating the assertion of the Biden administration according to which “the majority of people who come to the border are turned away.

“Yes, we changed the policies of the last administration regarding unaccompanied children, but the majority of families, adults, the vast, vast majority are turned back at the border. And that’s a message that we clearly have to keep looking for ways and means to get out, you know, more and more in the region, ”she continued.

His comments follow the revelation that under Biden, the Department of Homeland Security will convert two immigration family detention centers in South Texas into Ellis Island-style rapid processing facilities, and has already emptied a facility in Pennsylvania. .

Immigration and Customs Enforcement wrote last Friday in a court file that if families continue to be detained at its Karnes City and Dilley facilities, adults and children are all released within 72 hours.