DHS Reinstates ‘Remain in Mexico’ Program

The goal was to prevent illegal immigrants from making fraudulent asylum claims that gave them a pathway to await their court appearance while living in the US.

Illegal immigrants from El Salvador walk through brush alongside the banks of the Rio Grande after crossing into the United States in Eagle Pass, Texas, on May 21, 2022. Brandon Bell/Getty Images

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has reinstated the “Remain in Mexico” program that sends asylum seekers who traveled through Mexico, back to Mexico rather than allowing them to reside in the United States while awaiting notice to appear in immigration court.

The “Remain in Mexico” program, officially known as the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), was first enforced in January 2019.