On September 21, millions of Americans were taken aback after seeing images of U.S. Border Patrol agents using long "reins" to chase down asylum-seeking Haitian migrants near the southern border. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki called the images "horrific" and Vice President Kamala Harris said that she was "deeply troubled" by what was taking place. While this story may be new to some, it is not new to you and the Black Information Network family.

Just two months into Biden's presidency, the Black Information Network reported that nearly 15,000 Black migrants seeking asylum in the United States were forced to wait in Mexico as wheels of the American immigration system slowly turned. While in Mexico, a number of Black, non-Spanish-speaking migrants faced discrimination and police brutality.

“Black migrants get noticed immediately, so they get stopped by the police a lot more,” Paulina Olvera Cáñez of Espacio Migrante, a nonprofit organization in Tijuana, told BuzzFeed News.

Two months later, activists openly criticized immigration policies implemented under the Biden administration that targeted Black immigrants seeking asylum. Ultimately, the White House and Department of Homeland Security extended temporary protections for thousands of Haitians seeking refugees in the U.S.

“Haiti is currently experiencing serious security concerns, social unrest, an increase in human rights abuses, crippling poverty, and lack of basic resources, which are exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said.

However, there is one caveat with the efforts put forth by the White House and Department of Homeland Security. As immigration lawyer Samah Sisay explained to NBC News, protected status can be revoked if an asylum seeker has three or more misdemeanors, including any offense involving marijuana. Given that the American policing system has been called out for unjustly stopping and arresting unarmed Black folks, policies that rely on a fair justice system often raise eyebrows. Ultimately, the Black Alliance found that 76% of Black migrants are deported because of contact with the police.

“Black immigrants are constantly profiled. Things that could be a ticket then turn into misdemeanors. Black immigrants also have the highest visa denial rates. Black immigrants are more likely, when they are detained, to be put in solitary confinement. We bear the brunt of all the consequences that happen, all the xenophobia in this country," Yoliswa Cele of UndocuBlack explained to NBC News.

The immigration issues that faced the Biden administration have only worsened over the last eight months. The conflict reached a tipping point last week when upwards of 10,000 Black migrants gathered near a bridge in Del Rio, Texas. U.S. Border Patrol agents traveled out to that area and the images referenced above were captured, but how did we get here?

How Did We Get Here?

Zach Boog

About Zach Boog