Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has made it clear the US will not allow fleeing Cubans and Haitians to enter the country. On a statement Tuesday Mayorkas sternly warned refugees against fleeing, “allow me to be clear: if you take to the sea, you will not come to the United States.”
Mayorkas, a Cuban immigrant who fled the island with his family in the 60s, says even if refugees demonstrate fear of being persecuted or tortured in their home countries they will not be allowed to step foot on American grounds.
In Cuba this weekend historically large protests began against the island’s communist government. Meanwhile, Haiti is further in political upheaval after the recent assassination of their president.
The US Coast Guard has been ordered to intercept anyone trying to reach the US by sea. Mayorkas noted that even those asylum-seekers who manage to get interviews with the US, despite the outcome of their screenings, will still not be allowed into the country. The HSS says the state of Florida will steer people to a third country.
“If individuals make, establish a well-founded fear of persecution or torture, they are referred to third countries for resettlement. They will not enter the United States.”
What’s infuriating to many Americans is how hypocritical the government is being as they continue to let the southern border migrants in. Tony Katz says we have to acknowledge the difference between immigrant and refugee before denying those seeking asylum.
“We’ve always made this distinction. The political left likes to lump it altogether. ‘Oh the political right opposes immigration’ that’s never been true, that’s always been a lie…Legal immigration is what we favor.”
Katz continues,
“We have also made sure there’s a difference between the refugee and the migrant. The migrant is simply moving. That doesn’t give you just some generalized cause for entering the nation. A refugee is someone who can’t return home or they’ll get killed. There’s a difference. (of course you can check the status of the refugee as well) but we don’t let refugees in the country? Are we insane?”
Welcoming migrants in for months and now shutting out the ones who need us the most- that’s the current administration.
