San Diego's Border Protection Officers Cancel Appointments: What Now? Ask Migrants

San Diego Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers are canceling appointments that allow asylum seekers into the United States. These appointments are specifically designed to allow asylum seekers at high risk of death or danger in their home countries to seek refuge in the United States. While COVID-19 already restricted border policies, these last-minute cancellations force many to scramble for housing, jobs, and food.

Many of these families are currently holding up in Tijuana, waiting for their appointment date to enter the country legally.

Leading Up to the Appointment Cancellations

The appointment system started when the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) launched a lawsuit against the federal government challenging Title 42. This title allows border officials to immediately expel any asylum seekers or other migrants back to their country of origin without reason.

When challenging this lawsuit, the ACLU and the American federal government came to an agreement. This agreement allows the ACLU to identify asylum seekers at high risk of death or danger if they return to their home country.

Once an asylum seeker requests a Title 42 exemption, they go through the ACLU's approval process before an appointment is set. This appointment lists a date, time, and port of entry into the United States. One of the most famous entry points is San Ysidro Port, which canceled several appointments.

Currently, families seeking asylum are waiting in Mexico and are fleeing from nearby countries such as Honduras or Haiti. Though reasons for applying for asylum differ, it is most commonly because their life is threatened if they stay in their home country. This can include threats of violence, medical conditions that require inaccessible care in their home country, and other urgent issues.

Now that several appointments have been canceled, asylum seekers are at risk of death or danger in their current situation. CBP officers have claimed these cancellations are due to capacity issues at San Ysidro Port, though they have not provided further information on the situation.

The capacity issue will be solved by Thursday, says the CBP. However, they have canceled appointments to enter scheduled over the following weekend as well. Though many of these canceled appointments have been rescheduled, it still leaves asylum seekers in a vulnerable position waiting until that day. To better understand what this means on the ground level, here is an in-depth look at what this means for asylum seekers as told by those with canceled appointments.

What this Means for Asylum Seekers

Those that have canceled appointments are stuck in border cities like Tijuana, waiting for their new due date. Though most have been given new entry dates, they are weeks or months off, leaving many in dire financial situations. This includes a woman from Honduras who has asked not to be named. Her family was scheduled to enter the United States on Saturday, but their appointment was canceled.

To prepare for the move from Tijuana into the United States, her husband had quit his job mere days before they were set to transfer. Now that they will be stuck in Mexico for another month, it will be difficult to make ends meet.

It is especially hard for their children. One child is an infant in need of diapers the family cannot afford. The second - a 12-year-old girl - was almost kidnapped during their stay in Tijuana. These kidnappings are common, and usually, the girls are found dead days after their taking. For this reason, their daughter refuses to go outside.

The mother is determined to get her family into the United States, where she can adequately care for her infant and 12-year-old daughter. Her husband is trying to find another job to last them until their new appointment, but few are willing to hire someone for such a short period of time.

A man from Haiti also had his appointment canceled, which has led to complications for his disabled son's medical treatment. The father and son were supposed to cross at the beginning of the week, but they were turned away upon arrival at the port of entry, citing overcapacity.

They returned home when roughly 20 people carrying guns and machetes broke down his door and told him to leave. He fled, carrying his disabled son. Upon return to their home, everything was taken.

Now, the father is left with his passport and $20 to last for the next month until their next appointment. Currently, they have been living with friends in the area but have to leave by Saturday and return to their empty home.

Considering how quickly their first appointment date was taken away, the father may have to wait longer than that month to enter the United States and get the treatment needed for his disabled son.

There are always crises at the border, and immigration is always a messy topic. Hacking Immigration Lawyers located in San Diego have been handling immigration cases to help those seeking the American Dream to enter the United States legally. Other organizations such as the ACLU are also on the case to try and support asylum seekers to get the help they need.