Biden admin proposes policy to restrict asylum access from South

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The Biden administration unveiled on Tuesday its latest proposal that would ban migrants from entering the United States in the event they attempt to illegally cross the border, without applying first for asylum in countries they traveled through, a notice set to be published in the Federal Register said.

"Specifically, this rule would establish a presumptive condition on asylum eligibility for certain noncitizens who fail to take advantage of the existing and expanded lawful pathways to enter the United States, including the opportunity to schedule a time and place to present at a port of entry and thus seek asylum or other forms of protection in a lawful, safe, and orderly manner, or to seek asylum or other protection in one of the countries through which they travel on their way to the United States," the filing states.

The proposal, scheduled to be published on Thursday, will not become effective immediately but will first go through a 30-day period to allow for public comment before being finalized.  

If approved, the proposal will remain in force for two years.

The notice states that the rule was drafted "in anticipation of a potential surge of migration at the southwest border" after the termination of a health emergency order known as Title 42, which allowed both the Biden and Trump administrations to immediately deport thousands of undocumented migrants at the border to prevent the spread of Covid-19.  

Read: 600,000 migrants face legal challenges for not having documentation

The administration plans to allow the public health emergency that underlies Title 42 to expire on May 11.

Earlier in January, US President Joe Biden and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas landed in El Paso, Texas, to tour the US southern border amid scores of migrants illegally entering the US since he assumed office, Sputnik noted.

According to a report released by the US government on January 2nd, the number of migrants deported in 2022 increased by 29% to 4.7 million.

Hundreds of #migrants, including children, who were denied entry into the #UnitedStates have been left to fend for themselves on the streets in subzero temperatures. pic.twitter.com/CCNG6fmLQR

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) January 4, 2023

Statistics published by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) division pertaining to the Department of Homeland Security, US border guards reportedly detained at least 2.3 million migrants in the last year, a record higher than any previous year. 

Just before the visit, Biden announced a major policy change for the US-Mexico border to address dissatisfaction from both Democrats and Republicans regarding his border policy.

With Mexico's permission, the US will begin admitting up to 30,000 migrants per month from Nicaragua, Cuba, Haiti, and Venezuela under a 'parole program', while those who do not comply will be expelled.

Activists see Biden's policy shift as a rejection of his campaign promise to protect asylum seekers, but it may mitigate the Republican backlash he has faced for months.

Read: US border plan risks undermining basic human rights: UN