Trump moving to end asylum of migrants from Central and South America

President Trump may be making headlines over the bickering House Democrats “the squad,” while moving to reverse the U.S. policy to end all asylum protections for most migrants who arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border, slashing the number of people seeking refuge in America.

The new rule, expected to go into effect Tuesday, would cover countless would-be refugees, many of them fleeing violence and poverty in Central America. It is certain to face legal challenges.

According to the plan published in the Federal Register , migrants who pass through another country, such as Mexico, on their way to the U.S. will be ineligible for asylum. The rule also applies to children who have crossed the border alone.

There are some exceptions, including for victims of human trafficking and asylum-seekers who were denied protection in another country. If the country the migrant passed through did not sign one of the major international treaties governing how refugees are managed (though most Western countries signed them) a migrant could still apply for U.S. asylum.

Mexican Foreign Relations Secretary Marcelo Ebrard said Monday that his country “does not agree with any measure that limits access to asylum.”

Mexico’s asylum system is also currently overwhelmed.

mexico flag on broken brick wall and half usa united states of america flag
photo license via Adobe

Attorney General William Barr said that the United States is “a generous country but is being completely overwhelmed” by the burdens associated with apprehending and processing hundreds of thousands of migrants at the southern border.

He also said the rule is aimed at “economic migrants” and “those who seek to exploit our asylum system to obtain entry to the United States.”

“This is yet another move to turn refugees with well-founded fears of persecution back to places where their lives are in danger — in fact the rule would deny asylum to refugees who do not apply for asylum in countries where they are in peril,” said Eleanor Acer of Human Rights First.

ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt, who has litigated some of the major challenges to the Trump administration’s immigration policies, said the rule was unlawful and the group planned to sue.

“The rule, if upheld, would effectively eliminate asylum for those at the southern border,” he said. “But it is patently unlawful.”

U.S. law allows refugees to request asylum when they arrive at the U.S. regardless of how they arrive or cross.

Mexico agrees to help Trump ‘get tough’ on immigration, NY Times says the deal is months old

Nicholas Ivie, border patrol agent, shot and killed, another agent wounded

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *