President Biden’s new executive action on immigration has sparked controversy and debate as he unveiled a policy that allows U.S. immigration officials to deport migrants without processing their asylum claims. This move, which suspends the processing of asylum claims between official entry points along the southern border, marks a significant shift in U.S. border policy.
The president emphasized that individuals who enter the country unlawfully will be restricted from receiving asylum and staying in the United States. The partial ban on asylum claims will take effect immediately, with regular processing only resuming once illegal border crossings decrease below a certain threshold.
Critics argue that this policy change attempts to upend U.S. asylum law, which allows migrants to request humanitarian protection even if they cross the border illegally. However, the Biden administration cites the strain on the asylum system, with over 3 million pending applications, as a reason for the crackdown.
The new policy allows for the quick rejection and deportation of migrants who enter the country illegally, with exceptions for unaccompanied children, those with medical conditions, and migrants using legal pathways. The administration plans to carry out deportations swiftly, with only those expressing fear of persecution or torture being screened for protection.
The move has drawn criticism from groups like the ACLU, who plan to challenge it in court, and GOP lawmakers who dismiss it as a political maneuver. President Biden’s decision reflects the ongoing challenges at the U.S.-Mexico border and the administration’s efforts to address them unilaterally in the absence of congressional action.
