WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham’s (R-South Carolina) amendment to the Senate budget resolution calling for strengthening and protecting the ‘Remain in Mexico’ program was defeated by a vote of 50-50. 

The ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy was adopted by former President Trump and has proven to be successful in taking pressure off our southern border.

Before ‘Remain in Mexico’ was adopted, migrants from the Northern Triangle countries – Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador – traveled to the United States seeking to turn themselves in and claim asylum, whether they had a valid claim or not. They would then be released into the United States and often did not return for their court dates. 

“It is a mistake to support the reversal of the ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy,” said Graham.  “Over 50,000 asylum seekers have been waiting in Mexico rather than being allowed into the United States where they often disappear while waiting in the one million person asylum case backlog. I was disappointed the Senate did not adopt this important measure.” 

Graham noted that a reversal of the ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy would:

• Lead to another run on our southern border like we had in 2018 and 2019 when thousands of migrants showed up claiming asylum.

• Complicate efforts in Congress to reform the immigration system, which is a priority for the Biden Administration and Members of Congress.

Watch Graham’s Full Speech Here

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