Biden Administration Tightens Border Security with Stricter Asylum Rules

By News

Published 5 months ago on

September 26, 2024

Biden administration moves to solidify asylum restrictions, aiming to address border challenges and public concerns. (Shutterstock)

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President Biden’s administration is preparing to solidify asylum restrictions at the U.S.-Mexico border, according to a recent CBS News report. The planned regulation would make it significantly more challenging to lift the strict rules implemented this summer.

In June, Biden issued a proclamation that effectively halted asylum processing for most migrants crossing the border illegally. This measure led to a sharp decline in illegal border crossings, reaching a four-year low.

The proposed changes would modify the conditions for ending the partial asylum ban. Currently, the restrictions would lapse if the seven-day average of daily illegal border crossings falls below 1,500. The new rule would require this average to remain below 1,500 for 28 consecutive days and include all unaccompanied children in the calculations.

“July and August saw the lowest encounter levels since September 2020,” said White House spokesperson Angelo Fernández Hernández, highlighting the effectiveness of Biden’s actions.

The administration’s shift towards stricter immigration policies reflects growing public support for such measures. Recent polls indicate Americans increasingly favor tougher immigration enforcement.

Neither Left nor Right Is Happy

However, the move has faced criticism from both sides. Migrant advocates argue it infringes on asylum-seekers’ rights, while Republican lawmakers claim Biden took too long to address border issues.

Theresa Cardinal Brown, a former U.S. immigration official, noted, “There does need to be some changes to asylum at the border to make the system workable and manageable.”

The administration maintains that their approach differs from previous policies by offering legal pathways for migrants, such as a program allowing Americans to sponsor citizens from certain Latin American and Caribbean countries.

As the 2024 election approaches, immigration remains a contentious issue, with both parties adjusting their strategies to address public concerns and border security challenges.