The Remain in Mexico Policy (MPP), officially known as the Migrant Protection Protocols, was introduced by the Trump administration in 2019 as a part of U.S. immigration policy aimed at curbing illegal immigration and asylum claims at the southern U.S. border. This controversial policy required asylum seekers from certain countries to wait in Mexico for their U.S. immigration hearings, rather than being allowed to stay in the U.S. during the asylum process.

While the policy was hailed by some as a necessary measure to address the growing number of asylum seekers, it has faced significant criticism for its impact on the human rights and safety of asylum seekers. This article explores the Remain in Mexico Policy (MPP), its impacts on asylum seekers, and the current state of the policy in 2025.

What is the Remain in Mexico Policy (MPP)?

The Remain in Mexico Policy (MPP) was implemented by the Trump administration in January 2019. Under MPP, migrants who arrived at the U.S. southern border and expressed a fear of returning to their home countries—thereby claiming asylum—were required to stay in Mexico while awaiting their immigration hearings in the U.S. instead of being allowed entry to the U.S. to wait in safety.

The rationale behind the policy was to deter illegal immigration by preventing migrants from entering the U.S. while their asylum claims were processed. The policy affected individuals from countries like Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, and others from Central America and beyond, who were seeking asylum due to violence, poverty, or persecution in their home countries.

Impacts of the Remain in Mexico Policy on Asylum Seekers

The Remain in Mexico Policy has had profound and often devastating effects on asylum seekers, especially in terms of their safety, mental health, and ability to effectively pursue asylum claims. Below are some of the most significant impacts on asylum seekers:

1. Increased Vulnerability to Violence

One of the primary concerns raised by human rights organizations is the extreme vulnerability of asylum seekers forced to stay in Mexico. While waiting for their hearings, many migrants found themselves exposed to violence, including:

• Kidnapping by criminal cartels

• Human trafficking

• Physical assaults and robberies

Mexico’s border regions, particularly in cities like Tijuana, Matamoros, and Ciudad Juárez, are often plagued by high levels of crime and violence. Asylum seekers, who are largely fleeing violence in their home countries, are often forced to live in makeshift shelters or on the streets, making them easy targets for criminal groups.

Several asylum seekers reported being victimized by violence during their stay in Mexico, with few protections available to them.

2. Legal and Logistical Challenges

For many asylum seekers, navigating the U.S. immigration process while being forced to remain in Mexico proved to be a daunting challenge. Many individuals faced significant barriers, such as:

• Lack of legal representation: Many asylum seekers could not afford or access lawyers to help them with their claims.

• Difficulties attending hearings: Asylum seekers who were waiting in Mexico often struggled to attend their U.S. hearings due to transportation issues, limited resources, and the long distances between their shelters and U.S. immigration courts.

• Language barriers: The absence of bilingual support and interpreters made it difficult for many migrants to understand the proceedings and properly articulate their cases in court.

These challenges contributed to a backlog in asylum cases and left many migrants with little hope of receiving a fair and timely hearing.

3. Deterioration of Mental Health

The Remain in Mexico Policy has had severe mental health implications for many asylum seekers. Being forced to wait in a foreign country with limited resources, under constant threat of violence, and in limbo about their futures has caused profound psychological distress. Many asylum seekers reported feelings of:

• Hopelessness and anxiety about their futures

• Depression caused by the harsh living conditions

• Trauma from witnessing or experiencing violence

For vulnerable populations like children, the mental health impact was even more significant, as many experienced significant stress, fear, and emotional distress during their time in Mexico.

4. Family Separation

Asylum seekers who were forced to remain in Mexico often faced the risk of family separation. Parents, for example, were sometimes forced to leave their children behind in their home countries or to navigate dangerous and difficult conditions with them in tow. The risk of trafficking and exploitation during this time was very real, with many families unable to reunite after their time in Mexico.

The Legal and Political Backdrop of the Remain in Mexico Policy

The Remain in Mexico Policy was highly controversial and faced legal challenges from the moment it was implemented. Human rights organizations, legal advocates, and even some state governments argued that the policy violated U.S. and international law by forcing people to remain in unsafe conditions. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other groups sued the U.S. government, claiming that the policy violated asylum seekers’ rights to seek refuge in the U.S. under both U.S. law and the 1951 Refugee Convention.

Legal Developments Under the Biden Administration

Upon taking office in January 2021, President Joe Biden moved quickly to reverse many of the policies put in place by the Trump administration, including the Remain in Mexico Policy. In February 2021, Biden issued an executive order suspending the program while reviewing its impact. A federal judge later ruled in favor of restarting the program, which led to the resumption of some MPP protocols in late 2021. However, the Biden administration continued efforts to end the policy, and as of 2025, the program remains suspended, although certain legal challenges continue.

What Happens Next for Asylum Seekers?

The future of asylum seekers in the U.S. remains uncertain as the legal battles over policies like MPP continue. However, the Biden administration has made significant strides in revising asylum procedures and focusing on more humane approaches to handling asylum seekers.

Efforts are being made to reduce immigrant detention and provide alternative forms of protection for asylum seekers while their cases are pending. There is also an ongoing push for immigration reform that would offer a pathway to citizenship or legal status for vulnerable populations.

For those seeking asylum in the U.S., the hope for fairer treatment and improved conditions continues, but challenges remain as the legal and political landscape surrounding immigration evolves.