The Biden administration on Monday announced further tightening asylum restrictions at the southern border, as it seeks to signal to anxious voters that it is taking a hard line on border security. .
Tightening new rules announced in June prohibit admitting refugees if U.S. authorities determine the southern border is under control.
Under previous rules, the U.S. could limit asylum access if the number of people attempting to enter the country during official border crossings reached 2,500 per day. For restrictions to be lifted, the average number of infections per day for a week had to fall below 1,500.
The version released on Monday says the number of daily infections must remain below 1,500 for almost a month before restrictions are lifted. And while previously only immigrant children from Mexico were counted, the government now counts all children in its count.
These changes, which go into effect Tuesday, will lift restrictions and make it much harder for people who enter the country during official border crossings to ultimately be able to claim asylum in the United States.
But the restrictions put in place in June have never been lifted, as the number of people encountered at the border has never been sufficiently reduced over a long enough period of time, why the administration is only now tightening them further. The question arises as to whether they felt the need to do so. The seven-day average has dropped to about 1,800 encounters with migrants per day, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Officials said Monday that a longer timeline is needed to ensure the drop in immigration is sustained and not due to a one-off event. The official briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity about the tightened restrictions before making them public.
Immigrant advocates had already harshly criticized the restrictions announced in June, saying the administration was cutting important protections for people fleeing persecution. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other groups are challenging the restrictions in court, arguing that they are little different from similar moves by the Trump administration that have been blocked in court. They argue that people crossing borders can be trusted by law. Fear of persecution or harm requires due process.
The ACLU posted on social media platform X on Monday: “Asylum laws enacted by Congress recognize that people fleeing danger should not be forced to wait or try to secure an asylum appointment. This restrictive rule is immoral. Not only is it illegal, it’s illegal.”
The administration has touted its asylum restrictions, which it claims have led to a significant drop in the number of people coming to the southern border. DHS announced Monday that since the changes were announced in June, the number of people encountered daily at border patrols between legal border crossings has decreased by more than 50%.
In a statement announcing the new rule, DHS called on Congress to do more to resolve immigration issues.
Border security and immigration have become key pain points for the Biden administration and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and party officials have harshly criticized the influx of people to the southern border under the Biden administration, and the White House and vice president have vowed to take sufficient measures to restrict immigration. He stated that he had not taken the class. and secure the borders.
Harris became the first Democratic candidate to visit Arizona’s border region on Friday. She walked along the high metal fence that separates the United States and Mexico, advocating for better ways to admit immigrants legally and calling for stricter asylum rules.
“I reject the false choice that we must choose between securing our borders and building a system of order, security, and humanity,” Harris said. “We can and must do both.”
Some exceptions are allowed to this restriction. For example, victims of severe forms of human trafficking would still be allowed to apply for asylum.
The administration is also allowing people using the CBP One booking system to apply for asylum, but those people must make an appointment on the app to come to an official border crossing.
The government is trying to encourage people to use the app without crossing the border illegally.
However, demand far exceeds the 1,450 reservations per day, and the administration has not indicated any intention to increase the number of reservations.
