The Biden administration announced Thursday that it is proposing changes to the asylum system that would allow immigration authorities to reject and quickly remove asylum seekers with criminal records that pose a threat to national security or public safety.
A senior U.S. Department of Homeland Security official said in a call with reporters that the changes would be made during the initial review stage.
The proposed rule would allow asylum officers to deny asylum within a few days if there is evidence that the immigrant is ineligible for reasons such as terrorist ties, threats to national security or criminal history. Become.
“The only time this really applies is to people who have a serious criminal record or who are connected to terrorist activity, and it essentially means that the people we encounter or interview on any given day It’s just a small percentage of individuals,” said a senior DHS official. “We don’t think this rule will apply to large numbers of people, but it will apply to the people we are most concerned about.”
Currently, when immigrants apply for asylum, they go through the following process: “Credible Fear” Screening Even if criminal charges are brought against them, they may continue to apply for asylum or be disqualified, depending on the severity of the crime.
“The proposed rules we are announcing today will continue our commitment to keep the American people safe by more quickly identifying and removing individuals who pose a national security risk and have no legal basis to remain here.” “This is another step in our efforts,” the Secretary of Lands said. Security official Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement.
DHS is also issuing revised guidance for asylum officials to consider whether asylum seekers can relocate to another area of the country where they are at risk of persecution (known as internal relocation).This has been implemented Under the Trump Administration Written by Ken Cucinelli The Biden administration then reversed that policy.
According to a DHS press release, the new guidance will help “early identify individuals who may ultimately be deemed ineligible for protection because they may be safer by relocating elsewhere in the country.” “We will ensure their exclusion.”
The Biden administration is dealing with the highest number of migrant encounters in the United States. The US-Mexico border in 20 yearscontinues to face fierce criticism from the Republican Party and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump over its immigration policies.
Congressional Republicans passed a bill for reinstatement Tough immigration policies during the Trump administration walked back Bipartisan border security agreement and recent Mr. Mayorkas was impeached.. The Senate quickly rejected the House’s impeachment proposal.
The public comment period for the Notice of Proposed Regulations will run from May 13 to June 12. DHS officials said they expect the proposed rule to be completed by the end of this year and to be implemented quickly.
