WASHINGTON - The Biden administration announced Monday it will expand its asylum restrictions at the U.S.-Mexico border, cementing tougher standards that will cut off access to protections for many migrants.

Monday’s rule finalizes an earlier policy that cut off access to asylum for those who crossed in between ports of entry if border figures ticked above a 2,500 average over the course of a week.

But while the interim policy put in place in June would allow asylum processing to restart once border crossings averaged 1,500 over seven consecutive days, the new rule enacts a much tougher standard, requiring that metric be sustained for 28 straight days.

It’s a standard that officials from the Department of Homeland Security said is designed to avoid “volatility” at the border.

However, border crossings have yet to decrease below the official threshold for seven days, much less for a 28-day period.

The Biden administration does have other pathways for migrants to seek asylum, including at ports of entry for those who have secured appointments under the CBP One app.

They’ve also allowed citizens of Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela and Nicaragua to enter the country on a temporary, two-year basis, if they are able to secure a U.S.-based financial sponsor.

Still, advocates say those limited programs do little to counter a change in border management vision from one of human rights protections to a threat mindset. (Source: The Hill)

Story Date: October 1, 2024