State and Mexican officials recently held a meeting in Tijuana in order to prepare before the arrival of immigrants due to the end of Title 42
State authorities held a multi-agency meeting in order to prepare for the arrival of immigrants after the Dec. 21 end of Title 42.
The policy, first implemented by the Donald Trump administration, was suspended by Democrat US Pres. Joe Biden. The policy kept asylum seeker immigrants in Mexico while their applications were processed in order to stop the spread of Covid-19.
The meeting led by Secretary of Government Catalino Zavala was held in Tijuana.
Sec. Zavala said the Baja California administration has begun an effort to coordinate along with the Mexican government and the cities to receive immigrants.
The state seeks to strengthen addressing immigrant needs under a humanist perspective, Zavala said.
Although activists have complained for the lack of support from public agencies, the secretary assured the state has provided immigrants with housing, food, psychological and legal services through specialized agencies along with international entities, nonprofit organizations and other public agencies.
Authorities and activists have reported crowded immigrant shelters at least in Mexicali.
The Mexican Consulate in San Diego called the meeting in which staff with the National Immigration Institute, the National Center of Intelligence, the National Guard, cities and public safety agencies took part as well.
This week, a US judge halted the cancellation of Title 42 — leaving the issue in limbo.
Foreign vote bill introduced
A state lawmaker introduced a bill that, if enacted, would authorize those living outside Baja California to vote in local elections.
The constitutional reform was introduced by Assemblyman Cesar Adrian Gonzalez, of the Green Party.
Gonzalez said although many Baja Californians leave the state for different reasons, these citizens are still connected to the issues occurring in the country and the state, especially when their families still live in the state.
According to the legislator more Mexicans living abroad seek to get involved in public issues in their places of origin through voting.
The first time the country held a foreign vote was in 2006. However, turnout has been very low since then with dozens of thousands of voters taking part in the elections from abroad.
As of 2018, sixteen states hold foreign voting, including Michoacán, Chiapas, Guanajuato, Jalisco and Mexico City.
Assemblyman Gonzalez said abroad voting is permitted under the General Law of Electoral Institutes and Procedures. That law permits states to hold foreign voting if the local Constitution allows it.
Baja California law does not include voting from abroad.
Assemblyman Gonzalez said state law must give Baja Californians living in other countries the right to vote for local authorities.
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