President Biden unveiled a controversial executive action this week, authorizing U.S. immigration officials to deport large numbers of migrants without processing their asylum claims. The move has drawn significant concern from advocates, who argue it leaves migrants with “fewer options to access protection.” Joanna Williams, who runs a shelter for migrants in Nogales, Mexico, highlighted the dire situation for asylum seekers unable to secure appointments through a government app, saying their only alternative might be risking dangerous crossings through the desert to avoid border patrol.
The executive action allows authorities to quickly reject and deport migrants entering unlawfully by suspending asylum claim processing between official entry points along the southern border. This measure, criticized as a reversal of U.S. asylum laws, has sparked backlash from the left. President Biden defended the action, citing historically high illegal border crossings and attributing the need for this measure to congressional Republicans’ failure to pass border security legislation earlier this year.
Despite the president’s defense, the new policy has raised alarms among migrant advocates like Williams, who warned of increased deaths due to long-standing deterrence policies. The partial asylum ban excludes unaccompanied children, those with acute medical conditions, or individuals fleeing imminent harm using legal pathways. It will be rolled back if daily illegal border crossings drop below 1,500 for two weeks. The American Civil Liberties Union has announced plans to challenge the executive action in court.
Pic Courtesy: google/ images are subject to copyright
