The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is set to widen COVID-19 vaccination efforts among asylum-seekers and migrants taken into U.S. custody, CBS News reports.
Currently, unaccompanied children, asylum-seekers subject to the Remain in Mexico policy, and people in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody receive vaccinations (though officials are facing lawsuits for impeding the latter). Asylum-seekers allowed to enter the U.S. have also been vaccinated through efforts by local organizations, and at very impressive rates.
Under the plan reported by CBS News, the Biden administration plans to expand vaccination efforts across nearly a dozen sites along the southern border, with expectations to eventually vaccinate thousands daily.
“The vaccination efforts are set to start at 11 locations along the southern border, before expanding to 16 additional sites by April 8, according to the congressional notification, which says officials hope to distribute 2,700 vaccines per day during the first phase,” the report said. “After expanding to phase 2, slated to begin on April 18, officials expect to be able to vaccinate up to 6,000 migrants daily by late May.”
"I think certainly vaccines are something that's going to be very, very important, especially with the communities that are affected," Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz recently told CNN. "We have to ensure that as we apprehend individuals and that they are turned over to an NGO or released in the community that we've set them up for proper care."
As the report notes, the Biden administration had floated offering vaccines on a widespread scale back in August. But The Washington Post reported later that year that officials—including Susan Rice, director of the United States Domestic Policy Council—had squashed the plan, “worried that it would invite more illegal crossings.”
ICE in August finally ramped up its vaccination efforts (following months of pressure from advocates), but is facing a lawsuit for denying particularly vulnerable people in its custody booster shots. Civil rights advocates had said that ICE had provided just over 1,400 boosters through Feb. 21 despite having a population ranging anywhere from 18,800 to 22,000 people at any one time.
The expanded vaccination effort comes as the Biden administration is also reportedly leaning toward terminating Stephen Miller’s debunked, anti-asylum Title 42 policy. Some reporting last year had also said the administration had considered phasing out the order by the end of that summer, but the policy has continued. “The CDC said earlier this month that its director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, will decide by Wednesday, March 30, whether officials should continue to expel migrant families and adults under Title 42,” CBS News said.
The Biden administration has already ended the policy as it pertains to unaccompanied kids. Further highlighting the arbitrary and racist nature of the policy, DHS recently reiterated to officers that they can exempt Ukrainians fleeing Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s invasion, but advocates noted Haitian and Central American asylum-seekers have not seen this same consideration from the federal government. Expanding vaccine access only strengthens the case for ending Title 42 once and for all.
Annunciation House, which is among the organizations that have been working to shelter and vaccinate asylum-seekers who are actually allowed into the U.S., has been preparing for the policy’s possible rescission, El Paso Times reports. But they certainly need more support. "I have yet to have an official source to tell me that Title 42 will be lifted, or that it will be modified on this specific date," Director Ruben Garcia told the outlet. "But we can’t wait until official word; we have to be much more proactive.”
RELATED STORIES:
ACLU files class action lawsuit against ICE, demands boosters for medically vulnerable immigrants
DHS medical experts again sound alarm about risky ICE detention, urge access to boosters
Catholic nun targeted by right-wing for aiding asylum-seekers says her 'focus remains unshaken'
Currently, unaccompanied children, asylum-seekers subject to the Remain in Mexico policy, and people in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody receive vaccinations (though officials are facing lawsuits for impeding the latter). Asylum-seekers allowed to enter the U.S. have also been vaccinated through efforts by local organizations, and at very impressive rates.
Under the plan reported by CBS News, the Biden administration plans to expand vaccination efforts across nearly a dozen sites along the southern border, with expectations to eventually vaccinate thousands daily.
“The vaccination efforts are set to start at 11 locations along the southern border, before expanding to 16 additional sites by April 8, according to the congressional notification, which says officials hope to distribute 2,700 vaccines per day during the first phase,” the report said. “After expanding to phase 2, slated to begin on April 18, officials expect to be able to vaccinate up to 6,000 migrants daily by late May.”
"I think certainly vaccines are something that's going to be very, very important, especially with the communities that are affected," Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz recently told CNN. "We have to ensure that as we apprehend individuals and that they are turned over to an NGO or released in the community that we've set them up for proper care."
As the report notes, the Biden administration had floated offering vaccines on a widespread scale back in August. But The Washington Post reported later that year that officials—including Susan Rice, director of the United States Domestic Policy Council—had squashed the plan, “worried that it would invite more illegal crossings.”
ICE in August finally ramped up its vaccination efforts (following months of pressure from advocates), but is facing a lawsuit for denying particularly vulnerable people in its custody booster shots. Civil rights advocates had said that ICE had provided just over 1,400 boosters through Feb. 21 despite having a population ranging anywhere from 18,800 to 22,000 people at any one time.
The expanded vaccination effort comes as the Biden administration is also reportedly leaning toward terminating Stephen Miller’s debunked, anti-asylum Title 42 policy. Some reporting last year had also said the administration had considered phasing out the order by the end of that summer, but the policy has continued. “The CDC said earlier this month that its director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, will decide by Wednesday, March 30, whether officials should continue to expel migrant families and adults under Title 42,” CBS News said.
The Biden administration has already ended the policy as it pertains to unaccompanied kids. Further highlighting the arbitrary and racist nature of the policy, DHS recently reiterated to officers that they can exempt Ukrainians fleeing Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s invasion, but advocates noted Haitian and Central American asylum-seekers have not seen this same consideration from the federal government. Expanding vaccine access only strengthens the case for ending Title 42 once and for all.
Thousands of Haitian migrants came to #DelRio #Texas seeking refuge and shelter. They were met with serious human rights violations by U.S. officials. Join us and @rfkhumanrights in emailing @POTUS directly and demanding an end to #Title42 today!https://t.co/eJ2JewH76s pic.twitter.com/2UWpTGZOe9
— UndocuBlack Network (@UndocuBlack) March 29, 2022
Annunciation House, which is among the organizations that have been working to shelter and vaccinate asylum-seekers who are actually allowed into the U.S., has been preparing for the policy’s possible rescission, El Paso Times reports. But they certainly need more support. "I have yet to have an official source to tell me that Title 42 will be lifted, or that it will be modified on this specific date," Director Ruben Garcia told the outlet. "But we can’t wait until official word; we have to be much more proactive.”
RELATED STORIES:
ACLU files class action lawsuit against ICE, demands boosters for medically vulnerable immigrants
DHS medical experts again sound alarm about risky ICE detention, urge access to boosters
Catholic nun targeted by right-wing for aiding asylum-seekers says her 'focus remains unshaken'