GOP Senator Pushes for Return of Trump-Era Immigration Policy that Mexico Has Described As a 'Red Line'

The "Remain in Mexico" policy, officially known as the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), was introduced by President-elect Donald Trump during his first term back in January 2019. The policy forced non-Mexican asylum-seekers to wait in Mexico for months or years while their claims for asylum were processed in U.S. immigration courts.

The policy, according to NGOs such as Human Rights Watch, exposed migrants to risks, including kidnapping, extortion, and violence, while limiting access to legal counsel and essential services. HRW also reported that the policy compounded existing failings in US immigration courts, including "a lack of access to counsel, barriers to legal representation, lack of transparency in immigration proceedings, and limited legal protections for asylum seekers."

Approximately 71,000 individuals were enrolled in the program until it was suspended in 2022 by President Joe Biden citing its "endemic flaws" and "unjustifiable human costs."

Senator Rand Paul announced last week plans to reinstate the "Remain in Mexico" policy as the incoming chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The Kentucky Representative stated his intent to prioritize the controversial immigration policy as part of broader efforts to reassert congressional authority and oversight, The Associated Press reports.

Paul, known for his libertarian-leaning views and skepticism of federal programs, described the policy as "successful" and said it would be the subject of his first committee hearing in January. He also expressed support for President-elect Donald Trump's broader immigration agenda, including the nomination of South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem to lead the Department of Homeland Security.

While Paul's leadership gives him increased influence, reinstating the policy could face significant legal and political challenges, as opposition remains strong among Democrats and human rights advocates.

Regardless, Trump is planning to quickly move forward with what he has described will be the "largest deportation operation in U.S. history." On Monday he confirmed he is planning on declaring a national emergency when he takes office in January, something that will enable him to use the U.S. military to help carry out mass deportations.

Trump gave the confirmation on his social media platform, Truth Social, echoing a comment made by Tom Fitton, president of conservative group Judicial Watch. Fitton had posted earlier this month that Trump was "prepared to declare a national emergency and will use military assets to reverse the Biden invasion through a mass deportation program." Trump reposted the message with the caption "TRUE!!"