Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., listens as Office of Management and Budget Acting Director Russell Vought testifies before the House Budget Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 12, 2019, during a hearing on the fiscal year 2020 budget. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

One of the most sure-fire ways to tell if one of the Trump administration’s immigration policies is working is by looking at the left’s reaction to the program. Early last year, the White House began implementing the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), also known as the “Remain in Mexico,” policy much to the chagrin of the progressive open-borders crowd. 

On Sunday, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) tweeted a CBS News article stating that some of the migrants affected by the program would have to travel over 300 miles to attend their court hearings. “The Trump administration doesn’t really care about “law and order.” The only goal here is to make it as difficult and dangerous as possible for asylum seekers,” Omar wrote. “I won’t stop fighting to repeal their cruel “Remain in Mexico” policy.

The Trump administration doesn’t really care about “law and order.” The only goal here is to make it as difficult and dangerous as possible for asylum seekers.

I won’t stop fighting to repeal their cruel “Remain in Mexico” policy. https://t.co/UzirTD7tg5

— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 5, 2020

Under the program, the majority of migrants seeking asylum in the United States are required to remain in Mexico after U.S. immigration officials process their paperwork. These individuals stay in Mexico until the date of the court hearings at which time they would enter the United States to have their cases adjudicated. In some cases, they would sit before a judge in a U.S. border town. In others, their hearings are conducted by video conference. 

The MPP is designed to circumvent the “catch and release” policies of previous administrations that allowed migrants to remain in the U.S. while awaiting their court dates. A significant number of these individuals would fail to show up for their court dates and decide to remain in the country illegally. The MPP eliminates this problem. 

Under the “Remain in Mexico” policy, tens of thousands of migrants have decided to return to their home countries rather than staying in Mexico to await their court dates. In November of 2019, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) stated that “a significant proportion of the 55,000+ returnees have chosen to abandon their claims.” 

The program has significantly slowed the flow of migrants into the United States. Moreover, it has cut down on the number of cases in which individuals are using asylum procedures to enter the U.S. for better jobs rather than those fleeing from dangerous situations. But, as with any government program, the “Remain in Mexico” policy is not without its issues. 

Many of the migrants waiting in Mexico have experienced some adverse effects. These individuals — including children — are often placed in high-crime cities where they are victimized by criminals. There have also been issues related to illnesses like scabies, chickenpox, respiratory infections, and others. Some have volunteered to provide medical care to migrants in Mexico.

Nevertheless, despite Omar’s contentions, the MPP is providing a more effective means of controlling immigration than that of previous administrations. The program has its issues, but it seems that the government could find ways to solve these problems without scrapping the policy altogether, as Omar suggests. The representative is well aware of this, so why wouldn’t she advocate for fixing the program’s flaws instead of trying to repeal it? 

The answer is simple. 

It’s the same reason why Omar, and her colleagues in “The Squad” seek to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) instead of resolving the agency’s internal problems. This is about allowing as many immigrants to enter the country as possible, regardless of each individual person.

This is about maintaining the electoral advantage that migrants provide, especially if they manage to find a way to allow illegal aliens and legal non-citizens to vote. It is why they are willing to endanger everyday Americans through their sanctuary city laws. Put simply, Rep. Omar isn’t opposed to the program because of its flaws, she’s against it because it’s working all too well for her liking.

This open borders agenda will be one of the many factors that play into the 2020 election. There are many who support an unlimited flow of immigrants into the United States. But the majority of the country — including folks on the left — agree with the Trump administration’s overall approach to the issue. Even still, the push for relaxing the country’s immigration policies is worth keeping an eye on. These folks aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. 

Let me know what you think in the comments below!

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