23 Jul Asylum Cooperation Agreement (Aca)

The asylum cooperation agreement (ACA) is a critical but controversial international agreement between the United States and several Central American countries.

In 2019, former President Donald Trump signed the ACA with Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. The purpose of the agreement was to require migrants seeking asylum in the U.S. to first seek asylum in the countries they passed through on their journey to the U.S.

The ACA was intended to curb the flow of migrants seeking asylum at the U.S. southern border. The Trump administration argued that the agreement would reduce the number of false asylum claims and deter people from making dangerous journeys to the U.S.

However, the ACA faced significant criticism from human rights organizations, activists, and legal experts. Critics argued that the agreement was a violation of international law and would put vulnerable migrants at risk.

In addition, many critics argued that Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, the three countries included in the ACA, were not capable of providing adequate protection to asylum seekers. These countries are plagued by high levels of violence, corruption, and political instability, making them unsafe for migrants.

The ACA faced several legal challenges in U.S. courts, and in 2020, a federal judge in California issued an injunction blocking the agreement. The judge ruled that the ACA was unlawful because it had not been approved by Congress.

The Biden administration has since announced that it would not pursue the ACA and has vowed to reverse many of the Trump administration`s immigration policies.

The ACA remains an important but contested issue in the ongoing debates about immigration and asylum policy. As the U.S. continues to grapple with high levels of migration from Central America and other regions, policymakers will need to find a balance between protecting vulnerable migrants and ensuring the integrity of the asylum system.