Refugees from Ukraine enter U.S. at Mexico border

[Boiler 45,538]

 

Mention of being admitted with Humanitarian Parole for 1 year.

 

So you could then adjust if such a route is available.

[millefleur 5,046]

Thanks for sharing this! It's nice to have confirmation as to what is going on down there.

 

Interesting that none of the US authorities did not want to respond to Reuters for comment....? Strange.

 

Another key point for people in the RUB forum: Ukrainians are being moved to the front of the line. Russians and other nationalities are reported turned away at the border.

[Boiler 45,538]

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/17/politics/biden-us-mexico-border-migration-covid-rules/index.html

 

Assuming Russians are being turned away, it was mentioned in passing without any back up, this seems a temporary Title 42 issue, now that is COVID related and certainly according to the CNN article above and similar reports elsewhere Title 42 seems unlikely to be around for much longer.

[millefleur 5,046]

7 minutes ago, Boiler said:

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/17/politics/biden-us-mexico-border-migration-covid-rules/index.html

 

Assuming Russians are being turned away, it was mentioned in passing without any back up, this seems a temporary Title 42 issue, now that is COVID related and certainly according to the CNN article above and similar reports elsewhere Title 42 seems unlikely to be around for much longer.

I'm curious how they will process people once it is lifted. Seems like another huge mess that won't have a simple answer.

[Boiler 45,538]

1 minute ago, millefleur said:

I'm curious how they will process people once it is lifted. Seems like another huge mess that won't have a simple answer.

It would appear, need to stress that as I always have doubts about the media, that Ukrainians are given Humanitarian Parole, maybe they will do the same for Russians?

 

Otherwise if asylum based then it seems there is an initial interview to see if there is any base for a claim and assuming there is they will be released into the US pending the usual process.

[millefleur 5,046]

4 minutes ago, Boiler said:

It would appear, need to stress that as I always have doubts about the media, that Ukrainians are given Humanitarian Parole, maybe they will do the same for Russians?

I'm not so sure. If the word about that got out, there would be more Russians at the border than Ukrainians. I just don't know if the US is prepared to handle letting that many more people in.

 

So with HP they basically just let you in without much screening? That's sort of what the video made it sound like.

[Boiler 45,538]

I think HP at the Border is a fairly quick and simple process, I have seen it mentioned a few times. But not in detail as to what happened in Secondary.

 

There is a numerical cap on refugees but not HP or Asylum

[Boiler 45,538]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10623173/Ukrainian-refugees-fleeing-war-coming-America-held-ICE-detention-centers.html

 

https://www.newsweek.com/exclusive-ice-detains-ukrainians-us-amid-europes-refugee-crisis-1688854

 

Seems a mish mash of reports, I think Reuters is more current.

[millefleur 5,046]

9 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Seems a mish mash of reports, I think Reuters is more current.

Daily Mail has been publishing straight up false stories since this whole thing started, so I'm taking that one with a grain of salt. I'm sure some of what they publish is true but it's just so hard to sift through all the exaggerations and dramatizations.

 

Newsweek seems like it has conflicting info, but I'm sure what is happening on the border somewhat reflects that. I have a feeling it is chaotic and there's no rhyme or reason as to what is going on down there, which is why US authorities at the border declined to comment for Reuters.

 

USCIS nor the DoS have really made statements clarifying anything yet, so we just have to keep waiting. It seems odd to me this would not have been more priority for the Biden administration given the rhetoric they use.

 

For anyone here on VJ who maybe has family considering this route: it sounds risky and chaotic, so people should be aware of what they are getting into. Of course it is better than being in active war zone, but to expect to be let in speedily with open arms at the border is not realistic.

[Boiler 45,538]

I agree, without some sort of official announcement it is very difficult to work out what US policy is.

 

I think there is a difference in that Ukrainians have options, Russians may not. 

 

Watch this space!

[millefleur 5,046]

6 minutes ago, Boiler said:

I think there is a difference in that Ukrainians have options, Russians may not. 

No official news yet from my contacts in Russia that people can't leave, so that's at least good. It seems like right now the policy of Russia towards its citizens leaving is "Good riddance, leave then" but it could change. Lots of people are fleeing Russia now which has caused flights to go up significantly, thus creating an economic barrier. Popular destinations now include Turkey, Georgia, Serbia, etc. The situation with Europe's borders for Russians is very unclear, I've heard conflicting stories and have not been able to confirm 100% what is going on.

 

It does not appear to me that Russians are allowed to seek asylum in Schengen Europe right now. No source but just what people have been telling me plus general focus right now on the Ukrainian refugee crisis. The US-Mexico border would make sense for some especially if they have family or connections in the US. Let's just watch and wait and see how it unfolds.

 

 

[Boiler 45,538]

Unconnected to this Turkey is heading for an economic meltdown, from the odd comment I have seen Serbia is more a stepping stone. 

[millefleur 5,046]

11 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Unconnected to this Turkey is heading for an economic meltdown, from the odd comment I have seen Serbia is more a stepping stone. 

Indeed, I talked to some people about Turkey and they basically to me "I don't care, I just don't want to be in Russia, anywhere is better right now"...a bunch are men under age 27, who were already draft dodgers and now are very scared they will actually be enlisted/forced to fight. These Russians plan to just "wait out" the war there, and maybe will figure out what to do after...many people don't have long term plans, some want to go back to Russia where their homes are if they can but it's just so up in the air, nobody knows what the other side of this looks like. There's a lot of fear and desperation, people are acting without thinking, understandable of course.

 

A bunch of them thankfully get remote IT jobs and stuff so they can make money and get paid somehow, ironically this influx of Russians might actually help Turkey's economy a bit. Just depends on how long they stay there. The people who are leaving now seem to be the "savvy" ones, so I hope they'll manage OK and get by until this ends. Currently I have a friend who is trying to get to Serbia right now, he's doing some job interviews for remote IT stuff and he will see if he can get some residency there through that. His wife is dual Russian-Ukrainian citizen but because she is "safe" in Russia and not fleeing a war zone, she doesn't qualify for any kind of asylum in Europe right now.

[millefleur 5,046]

Some updates....I'm highlighting some interesting aspects from the article.

At Mexico border, anti-war Russians worry about their fate as Ukrainians enter U.S.

U.S. officials have let dozens of Ukrainians through this week but Russians remain in limbo, prompting some to camp on the pavement alongside a barbed wire border fence, defying warnings from Mexican authorities to leave.

...

When asked on Thursday about Ukrainians and Russians at the border, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said the government was helping people fleeing Ukraine, and that other programs were being considered to expand humanitarian aid.

 

Read more here: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/mexico-border-anti-war-russians-worry-fate-ukrainians-enter-us-rcna20850

_____________________________________________

 

Based on that note about defying Mexican authorities, I think this is too dangerous of a route for most Russians right now. I would not recommend it.

Edited March 21, 2022 by millefleur

[Boiler 45,538]

It will be interesting to see what happens at the end of the month when Title 42 is up for review. 
 

As the article mentions the current policy is illogical and not sure how it can continue.