US President Joe Biden issued an executive order to step up measures to stop asylum seekers from entering across the country’s border with Mexico.
“I am announcing action to prevent migrants who illegally cross our southern border from receiving asylum,” Biden said in Washington on Tuesday.
“Migrants will be prevented from receiving asylum at our southern border unless they seek it after entering through an established legal process.”
The US president went on to say that “asylum will still be available” for those who attempt to enter the US legally.
“But if an individual decides not to use our legal avenues, if they decide to come without permission and against the law, they will be barred from receiving asylum and from remaining in the United States.”
“This ban will remain in effect until the number of people trying to enter illegally is reduced to a level that our system can manage effectively,” Biden continued.
The White House published a presidential decree earlier in the day according to which migrants could be denied the opportunity to seek asylum in certain circumstances. This was criticized by both human rights activists and republicans.
People affected by the decree will be deported within a short period of time if they do not explicitly request asylum. Those who do so will be subject to stricter controls by border officials.
Previously, most asylum seekers were generally allowed to remain in the country until their trial date – which is often years in the future due to authorities being overwhelmed.
Exceptions to Biden’s order apply to unaccompanied children and seriously ill people, as well as victims of human trafficking, among others.
The new regulation is expected to be applied as soon as the average number of illegal border crossings in a week exceeds 2,500 per day. The measures would then be abandoned when the number fell below 1,500 again.
As the number of daily entries is currently above the new limit, the measures are expected to come into force on Wednesday.
Mexico is a transit country on the route taken by many Latin Americans fleeing violence, poverty and internal political chaos, trying to reach the United States.
