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White House moves to block asylum for migrants crossing Mexico
WASHINGTON, July 15, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – The Trump administration moved
Monday to block most migrants who cross the US southern border after passing
through Mexico from seeking asylum.
A new rule redefining asylum eligibility — to take effect on Tuesday —
is the latest attempt to stem the flow of undocumented migrants into the
country, and comes amid White House frustration at Congress’s failure to
change asylum laws.
“The United States is a generous country but is being completely
overwhelmed by the burdens associated with apprehending and processing
hundreds of thousands of aliens along the southern border,” Attorney General
Bill Barr said in a statement.
“This rule will decrease forum shopping by economic migrants and those who
seek to exploit our asylum system to obtain entry to the United States,” Barr
added.
The White House’s new rule targets the recent stream of hundreds of
thousands of migrants from Central America and other countries who have tried
to cross into the United States from Mexico and request asylum to gain a
foothold inside the country.
These requests — increasingly made by families claiming to flee endemic
violence and poverty in their countries — allow the applicants to remain in
the United States and to move around freely while their cases are
adjudicated, which can take two years.
Many disappear into the country and never appear for their cases,
immigration officials say.
The new rule declares any migrant who enters the United States from the
southern border and who has not asked for asylum in any of the countries they
cross to get to the United States ineligible for asylum.
Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan said the move, labelled
an “interim rule” in lieu of action by Congress, was necessary because
previous efforts to change immigration laws to stem the flow of migrants had
proven inadequate.
“Until Congress can act, this interim rule will help reduce a major ‘pull’
factor driving irregular migration to the United States… leading to fewer
individuals transiting through Mexico on a dangerous journey,” McAleenan
said.
The rule includes exceptions for people who can demonstrate they are
victims of torture or persecution, but US immigration officials have made
clear they consider most of the recent migrants from Central America to be
economic migrants, and thus not qualified for asylum.
BSS/AFP/BZC/2045HRS