Yves here. Having had such loose immigration enforcement, I am not sure how the US puts the genie in the bottle. Yes, there are legal and moral reasons to allow asylum-seekers to enter. But the evidence is strong that most immigrants who seek entry via the Mexico border are economic migrants and not victims of persecution. And it\u2019s also painfully difficult, save for prominent figures (or victims of targeting of particular ethnic groups) to determine if most asylum claims are bona fide.<\/p>\n
Here is who the US says is eligible for asylum:<\/a><\/p>\n To be eligible for asylum, you must be:<\/p>\n Inside the United States<\/p>\n Able to demonstrate that you were persecuted or have a fear of persecution in your home country due to your:<\/p>\n So it\u2019s bothersome to see painfully well-meaning articles pretend that the US does not have a big problem with illegal economic immigrants, both currently and historically. And this does not sit well with workers who suffer from competition from them, as well as entrants who went through the legal hoops to have the right to live and seek employment here.<\/p>\n By Jessica Corbett, staff writer at Common Dreams. Originally published at Common Dreams<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Migrant rights advocates were outraged by Monday reporting that U.S. President Joe Biden plans to hold an event at the White House on Tuesday to unveil a long-feared<\/a> executive order that would block people from seeking asylum when the number of unlawful border crossings hits a certain threshold.<\/p>\n Biden\u2019s order \u201cwould shut down asylum requests<\/a> to the U.S.-Mexico border once the number of daily encounters hits 2,500 between ports of entry, with the border reopening once that number declines to 1,500,\u201d according to<\/a>The Associated Press<\/em>\u2014and various other media outlets that also cited unnamed officials who cautioned that the final figures could still change.<\/p>\n The Democrat is expected to invoke Section 212(f)<\/a> of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which was previously used by former President Donald Trump\u2014the presumptive Republican nominee to face Biden in November\u2014and sparked legal challenges.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will need to see the E.O. before making any litigation decisions,\u201d Lee Gelernt, an attorney who serves as deputy director of the ACLU Immigrants\u2019 Rights Project, told<\/a>Axios<\/em> of Biden\u2019s expected move. \u201cAny policy that effectively ends asylum protection for people fleeing danger would raise significant legal problems, as it did when Trump tried to end asylum.\u201d<\/p>\n In response to a social media account tracking \u201cBiden\u2019s Wins,\u201d which welcomed the reported order, Gelernt\u2019s ACLU colleague Gillian Branstetter said<\/a>: \u201cThis is not a \u2018win\u2019\u2014it\u2019s a monstrosity. Asylum is a human right.\u201d<\/p>\n 2020: Protect asylum! No kids in cages! \u2014 Adam Johnson (@adamjohnsonCHI) June 3, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n After one social media user sarcastically told Branstetter, \u201cI\u2019m sure you\u2019ll love Trump\u2019s border policies,\u201d she stressed<\/a>, \u201cThis is Trump\u2019s border policy.\u201d<\/p>\n American Immigration Council policy director Aaron Reichlin-Melnick similarly said<\/a> that \u201cthe politics may have changed by the law hasn\u2019t; Trump tried to invoke section 212(f) to block asylum at the border and was slapped down in court. Biden\u2019s effort to do the same will also face immediate legal challenges.\u201d<\/p>\n Reichlin-Melnick also highlighted a policy brief that the American Immigration Lawyers Association released<\/a> in response to the reports, which takes aim at both the legality and effectiveness of the Biden administration\u2019s supposed plans.<\/p>\n \u201cThe decision by this administration to criminalize migrants\u2014many of whom are fleeing harm\u2014is deeply disturbing and misguided,\u201d said<\/a> Sarah M. Rich, senior supervising attorney and interim senior policy counsel at the Southern Poverty Law Center, in a statement. \u201cWe have witnessed how such prosecutions can be weaponized to separate and traumatize immigrant families.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cProsecuting people seeking safety in the U.S. for these immigration violations will lead to more Black and Brown people being incarcerated at the expense of immigrant families and communities,\u201d Rich continued. \u201cWe call on the Biden administration to instead adopt a humane and welcoming immigration framework that centers our values as a nation that welcomes immigrants.\u201d CNN <\/em>reported<\/a> that \u201cunaccompanied children would be exempt\u2014a key piece of the executive order that would worry immigration advocates who have said such an exemption could encourage some families to send children to the border on their own.\u201d<\/p>\n Save the Children U.S. declared<\/a> that \u201cseeking asylum is a basic human right. We\u2019ve seen what happens when children and families are separated and their right to safety is restricted. We can\u2019t let that happen again.\u201d<\/p>\n Rather than restricting the right of people to seek asylum, the U.S. government should be adequately staffing the program for considering asylum claims to reduce the current prolonged wait. https:\/\/t.co\/wTtC5UolH9<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Kenneth Roth (@KenRoth) June 3, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Meanwhile, Congressman Henry Cuellar, a right-wing Texas Democrat who has criticized Biden for not increasing border enforcement and is currently battling<\/a> bribery charges, praised<\/a> the president\u2019s pending policy.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been briefed on the pending executive order,\u201d said Cuellar. \u201cI certainly support it because I\u2019ve been advocating for these measures for years. While the order is yet to be released, I am supportive of the details provided to me thus far.\u201d<\/p>\n At least five Texas mayors have been invited to the White House for the Tuesday event, according to CNN<\/em>. Plans for the order come a few weeks before the first presidential debate of the 2024 cycle and follow the proposal last month of U.S. Department of Homeland Security rule to fast-track the rejection of certain asylum requests, which was condemned<\/a> as a \u201creturn to failed Trump-era policies.\u201d<\/p>\n The reporting also follows the Sunday electoral victory of the next Mexican president, leftist Claudia Sheinbaum\u2014who on Monday received<\/a> a congratulatory call from Biden. The AP<\/em> noted that \u201cthe number of illegal crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border has declined for months, partly because of a stepped-up effort by Mexico.\u201d<\/p>\n Biden\u2019s anticipated action would also come after the U.S. Senate again<\/a> killed the bipartisan Border Act. While Republican senators blocked the legislation at the direction of Trump, who wants to continue campaigning for president on immigration policy, the measure was also opposed<\/a> by progressive lawmakers and advocates.<\/p>\n Among the few Democrats who spoke out against the Border Act was Sen. Alex Padilla of California. Praising his floor speech last month, the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies said<\/a> that \u201cthis bill offers no solutions for immigrants and refugees. No measures to actually address the humanitarian and operational challenges at the border. Just more cruelty and chaos.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
\n
\n
2024: Protect asylum? No! Kids in cages! https:\/\/t.co\/d41ZGI3MND<\/a><\/p>\n
<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
![\"Print](\"https:\/\/cdn.printfriendly.com\/buttons\/print-button-gray.png\")
<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n