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US will try to expel Haitians to South American countries if there is a new wave of migrants

Washington, Oct 14 (EFE) .- The United States is negotiating with South American countries to expel some Haitians if there is a new wave of migrants from that nation who arrive at its border, the Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, said in an interview with Efe. FOOTAGE AND SOUNDBITES FROM THE INTERVIEW WITH MAYORKASTRANSLATIONI BELIEVE THE TERM "MASS EXPULSIONS" IS INAPPLICABLE. THERE WAS A LARGE NUMBER OF HAITIAN CITIZENS WHO CROSSED THE BORDER AT A SPECIFIC PLACE IN A VERY, VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, WHICH WAS VERY UNUSUAL FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE DEDICATED THREE DECADES TO WORKING ALONG THE FRONT BORDER PATROL AS IN COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND WE HAVE LEARNED FROM THAT EXPERIENCE. AND IF THERE WERE ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL MOVEMENT LIKE THAT, WE ARE PREPARED FOR IT. I KNOW THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE IS WORKING VERY INTENSELY WITH COUNTRIES OF SOUTH AMERICA, FROM WHICH HAITIAN MIGRANTS TRAVELED MOST RECENTLY, TO SEE IF THOSE COUNTRIES OF SOUTH AMERICA WOULD ACCEPT THE RETURN OF THE SOUTH AMERICAN CITIZENS BETWEEN OUR PORTS OF ENTRY. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS BEING WORKED VERY ENERGICALLY.WE ARE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT (TO TRY TO PROTECT THE MIGRANTS WHO RETURN TO MEXICO UNDER THE POLICY "STAY IN MEXICO", AND PREVENT THEY FROM BEING KIDNAPPED OR RAPED). THAT IS ONE OF THE IMPORTANT TOPICS OF OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM. AND OF COURSE, THEY SHARE THAT COMMITMENT TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE SUBJECT TO THE PROGRAM.WE ARE PREPARED TO ADDRESS MIGRATION AS IT OCCURS AT OUR BORDERS. WE HAVE DEMONSTRATED OUR PREPAREDNESS FOR IT. AND THE DECISION TO APPLY TITLE 42 IS NOT A DECISION BASED ON BORDER MANAGEMENT. IT IS BASED ON PUBLIC HEALTH DATA AND FACTS THAT THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL ASSESS AND DETERMINE.WE WERE CONSIDERING A DIFFERENT APPROACH THAN TITLE 42 WHEN SUCCESS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THE PANDEMIC JUSTIFIED A DIFFERENT APPROACH. BUT THEN THE DELTA VARIANT EMERGED, WITH GREAT STRENGTH AND IMPACT, AND THAT WAS A REAL SETTLEMENT FOR THE WELFARE OF THE PUBLIC FROM A HEALTH PERSPECTIVE, SO WE (CONTINUE) USE OF TITLE 42.