The Biden administration proposed new rules Thursday that would streamline asylum processing at the southern border by immediately rejecting certain immigrants deemed to “threat national security or public safety.”
The proposed rule would allow immigration authorities to reject and deport immigrants who are already ineligible for asylum early in the process, administration officials say, strengthening national security and saving taxpayers money. Stated.
The rule applies to immigrants who have been “convicted of a particularly serious crime,” who have “participated in the persecution of another,” who are “inadmissible for national security or terrorism-related reasons,” or who are deemed to be This is targeted at immigrants who have reasonable grounds to do so. A memo distributed by the Department of Homeland Security called it a danger to U.S. national security.
Federal law already prohibits granting asylum to individuals who pose a threat to national security or public safety, but the new rules require asylum officers to first assess a “credible fear” (a standard for granting asylum). It will be possible to consider the ineligibility of Just a few days after the person was encountered at the border.
“The proposed rules we announced today will keep Americans safe by more quickly identifying and removing individuals who pose a national security risk and have no legal basis to remain here,” said Alejandro Mayorkas. “This is another step in our ongoing efforts to do so.” The Secretary of Homeland Security said in a statement. “We will continue to take action, but fundamentally only Congress can fix what we all agree is a broken immigration system.”
A senior Department of Homeland Security official told reporters Thursday on condition of anonymity that the number of migrants eligible for asylum facilities is “small” but did not provide an estimate. The official added that the rule would “save taxpayers money” because many immigrants eligible for refugee status are detained throughout the process, which can take months. Ta.
The move comes as Biden counters bipartisan calls for executive action to stem the flow of people across the U.S.-Mexico border.After reaching Last year was the highest ever, border crossings have been steadily declining since December.But the issue remains one of the president’s biggest political vulnerabilities ahead of the November election, polls show. Although polarized, dissatisfaction is widespread. Also about the president’s border control.
The Republican Party, led by presidential candidate Donald Trump, has blamed Biden for the unprecedented situation at the U.S.-Mexico border. Progressive Democrats, Latino leaders, and immigrant rights advocates are urging him to: Do more To protect immigrants already living and working in the United States. At the same time, Democrats in battleground and border states are using their executive powers against Biden. crack down on Across the border.
“As the Biden administration considers executive action on immigration, it will return to failed Trump-era policies aimed at banning and rolling back asylum,” Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., said at a press conference Wednesday. It must not be done.” “I urge President Biden to embrace our values as a nation of immigrants and use this opportunity to provide relief to our nation’s long-term immigrants.”
Earlier this year, Congressional Republicans scrapped a bipartisan border agreement at Trump’s behest to deny Biden a political victory. Congressional Republicans have since argued that Biden already has executive authority to stem the flow of migrants. Biden continues to urge Congress to take action.
Meanwhile, President Trump has vowed to carry out the “largest domestic deportation operation in U.S. history” if re-elected in November, including deploying military and police forces and creating mass detentions. He came up with a series of policies. Camp along the southern border.
The changes announced Thursday are limited in scope.But Biden Said His administration is considering broader executive action;
This includes whether it has the authority to close the southern border.
