Biden Administration Announces New Rule to Speed Up Asylum Processing at Southern Border

On Thursday, the Biden administration revealed a new rule intended to expedite the processing of asylum claims at the southern border. This rule aims to swiftly deny entry to individuals suspected of serious crimes or having terrorist affiliations.

Struggling to Address Border Issues

The administration has been facing challenges in convincing the public, especially during an election where immigration is a prominent concern, that it has the southern border situation under control. The Republican party has been critical of the Biden administration's policies, arguing that they have exacerbated the problems at the southern border.

Changes in Asylum Processing

The Department of Homeland Security stated that under the new rule, migrants posing a public threat would be detained immediately, and their asylum eligibility would be determined at an early stage in the process. This initial screening, which currently occurs days after the individual's arrival in the country, will now take into account any criminal history or connections to terrorist activities when making decisions about their stay in the US.

According to the department, this adjustment will allow for the swifter removal of individuals deemed threatening to the United States, thereby enhancing border and national security.

Impact on Asylum Eligibility

While current laws already stipulate certain conditions that disqualify individuals from seeking asylum, such as a conviction for a serious crime, these factors usually come into play much later in the asylum process, often taking several years to resolve. The department highlighted that migrants are typically detained during this prolonged period.

The proposed rule seeks to expedite the asylum process by enabling Asylum Officers to reject claims within days of an individual's encounter if there is evidence of their ineligibility due to terrorism, national security, or criminal affiliations. This would significantly decrease the duration between an individual's encounter and their removal from the United States.