What's happened
The U.S. has expanded access to its asylum appointment app, CBP One, allowing migrants in southern Mexico to apply for appointments. Meanwhile, Brazil is imposing visa restrictions on Asian migrants, while Panama announces deportation flights for apprehended migrants. These developments come amid rising migration pressures in the region.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Independent, the U.S. has expanded the CBP One app to allow migrants in southern Mexico to apply for asylum appointments, a move aimed at alleviating pressure on northern cities. Germin Alemán, a Honduran migrant, expressed hope in the app's effectiveness, stating, 'We’re going to apply here, we’re going to wait for the appointment.' Meanwhile, the South China Morning Post reports that Brazil will impose visa restrictions on Asian migrants, with over 70% of refuge requests at airports coming from Indian, Nepalese, and Vietnamese nationals. This decision follows a Federal Police investigation highlighting the trend of migrants using Brazil as a launch point for further migration. Additionally, Panama's President Jose Mulino announced deportation flights for apprehended migrants, a move financed by the U.S. and aimed at reducing illegal migration through Central America.
How we got here
The U.S. has faced increasing migration pressures, with over 2.4 million encounters reported in the last fiscal year. In response, the CBP One app was launched to streamline asylum requests. Concurrently, Brazil and Panama are tightening immigration controls amid rising numbers of migrants transiting through their countries.
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