The government of US President Joe Biden wants to significantly tighten the rules for asylum seekers. This is to prevent a rush of migrants to the southern border of the country when the corona entry restrictions are soon to be lifted, a government representative in Washington said on Tuesday.
Among other things, an application for asylum should in future only be possible from outside the USA. Migrants who simply cross the border into the country might no longer ask for asylum in the USA. This passage is obviously aimed at the South and Latin American refugees who want to get to the USA via Mexico.
According to estimates, this is around 200,000 people per month. Most of them leave their home countries such as Venezuela or Colombia to escape poverty and violence – and following a long journey finally reach the USA on foot, where many of them apply for asylum.
According to the new rules now planned, this should be prevented. The refugees should now apply for US asylum either in one of the transit countries or via an Internet app and request an appointment with an immigration officer. If they don’t do this and simply come to the US instead, they should automatically lose their right to asylum.
The planned new rules were published by the US government on Tuesday. They are now to be discussed for 30 days and then – with any changes – finally decided. They should come into force at the latest when the strict Corona entry restrictions currently in force are lifted, which is planned for May.
Aid organizations immediately criticized the Biden government’s proposals. “This blanket asylum ban will barricade the door for countless refugees seeking safety and protection in the United States,” said Oxfam America President Abby Maxman. “This policy is illegal and immoral.”