Congressional Democrats refuse to close
loopholes in our political asylum system that has triggered a crisis
at our southern border, the Departments of Justice and Homeland
Security issued a joint Interim Final Rule (IFR) baring those who
enter, or attempt to enter, the United States illegally seeking
political asylum but went though a safe third country and did not
apply for asylum. This interim rule, authorized by Congress in
section 208(b)(2)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, adds a
new bar for asylum seekers and includes three limited exceptions:
Courtesy of Border Patrol an alien who can show that he/she applied in a safe third country for asylum for protection from persecution and can show a final judgment of being denied by that country- an alien who can clearly show that he/she satisfies the definition of “victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons” provided in 8 C.F.R. § 214.11; or,
- an alien who has made their way through only a country or countries that were not parties to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, the 1967 Protocol, or the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
Records have shown that only 11 percent
of asylum seekers get their claims granted, the other 89 percent just
remain in the U.S. illegally, figuring there is little chance of
removal. As of now the back-log in our courts shows 900,000 pending
asylum cases, and since we have a limited time to hold them, most are
on our streets now free to do what they want, this is unfair for
those who are trying to get here the legal way and are enduring
persecution in their country.
The Departments of Justice and Homeland
Security are lawfully exercising authority provided by Congress with
this badly needed rule change. No one will be denied if they truly
need asylum. This abuse of our asylum system not only hurts us
economically but undermines many of the humanitarian purposes of
asylum.
