Staff Reports
The Biden administration is planning to suggest a new rule on Thursday that aims to make the process of applying for asylum faster for some migrants. This could be a first step in President Joe Biden’s plan to get tougher at the border this year.
This rule would mainly impact migrants who have a criminal record or who would not be eligible for asylum in the United States in the end. Right now, if a migrant arrives at the border and passes a first screening for “credible fear,” they can continue with the asylum process even if they have a criminal background or pose a security risk. Later on, a judge would decide if that migrant could get asylum.
Biden administration to propose tougher asylum standards for some migrants at the borderhttps://t.co/xxT8MNJS5H pic.twitter.com/JQgyHjH6zi
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) May 9, 2024
Under the new rule, an officer at the first screening stage would be able to make this decision instead of waiting for a judge. The proposal would affect a small group of migrants and those who would not be able to get asylum anyway. But some people who support immigration have questioned making any changes to the credible fear process, saying that migrants are often interviewed right after they survive dangerous trips to the U.S.
It will probably be a few months before this proposal would actually become a rule. Biden is also considering taking bigger action on the border, depending on whether the number of illegal border crossings goes up – they have been going down since December.
At the same time, some Democrats and groups that support immigrants are pressuring Biden to help immigrants who are already in the United States. They want relief for immigrants without legal status but who have been in the U.S. for a long time. They met with Biden to talk about this, and they say they believe he is open to doing something to help them.
On the other hand, some Democrats, especially those in states where the political situation is not clear, are encouraging the White House to take action to reduce the number of border crossings. They are thinking about whether to bring several border proposals to a vote to show that Republicans are against stronger border enforcement. They also wrote a letter to the White House supporting executive actions.
This rewrite provides a conservative viewpoint on the news article, focusing on how the Biden administration’s proposed rule for asylum claims is accompanied by pressure to provide relief for immigrants who are already in the United States. It emphasizes concerns about potential changes to the asylum process and the need to consider border enforcement measures.
