A fresh policy regarding U.S. asylum, disclosed on Thursday, aims to swiftly dismiss asylum seekers caught crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally if they present specific criminal or national security risks. This limited measure, designed to curtail border crossings, would empower asylum officers to reject claims from migrants with serious criminal records, ties to terrorism, or deemed a public safety threat, as outlined in a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) press release. The process, intended to expedite rejections within days rather than the current multi-year timeline, is part of efforts to address the high volume of illegal border crossings.
Reports from Reuters and other sources on Wednesday detailed the proposed regulation, expected to impact thousands of asylum seekers annually, a fraction of the approximately 1 million individuals apprehended crossing illegally from October 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024. However, a DHS official declined to speculate on the number of rejections likely to occur under this new rule, emphasizing its focus on individuals of particular concern.
President Joe Biden, a Democrat running for reelection in November, assumed office in 2021 with a commitment to a more compassionate border security approach than his predecessor, former President Donald Trump, known for his strict immigration policies. However, Biden's administration has recently adopted a tougher stance on border security amid rising voter concerns over immigration, a key issue in the election. While Biden has not yet resorted to executive action to restrict asylum seekers at the border based on crossing levels, the administration is set to introduce the proposed regulation on Monday for public comment, with plans to finalize it this year.
In addition, under new guidance issued on Thursday, U.S. asylum officers will assess whether asylum seekers could have sought safety in another part of their home country before attempting to reach the U.S. These developments follow a previous asylum regulation issued by Biden last year, continuing the administration's efforts to address challenges at the U.S.-Mexico border.