Recently, the Biden Administration announced that it would be implementing a new rule for asylum seekers in the U.S., which, many critics fear, will make it more challenging for asylees to seek refuge here in the U.S. Please continue reading and reach out to a knowledgeable New York asylum lawyers from the Lightman Law Firm to learn more about the new rule for asylum seekers and how it may affect you. Here are some of the questions you may have:
What Will This New Rule Mean for Asylum Seekers?
The new rule modifies the eligibility requirements for those seeking asylum here in the United States. Many migrants who get to the U.S. first journey through other countries on their way. As per the new rule, these migrants would now have to seek asylum in one of those countries first, instead of waiting until they get to our country. Importantly, this will affect virtually every asylum seeker coming from South America, with the exception of Mexico.
While some are in favor of the plan, others, including certain immigration advocates, are strongly against it. They believe that it resembles the asylum transit ban proposed by the Trump administration. However, the Biden administration denies any similarity, stating that their aim is to discourage migrants from taking dangerous routes to the border where they could face harm from smugglers, coyotes, and other criminals.
Further, the administration states that the objective of this new rule is not to discourage individuals from seeing asylum here in the United States, and that they have added several humanitarian exceptions to the new rule, including for immigrants with serious medical conditions and for those who’ve been made victims of human trafficking.
So, who can still seek asylum in the U.S.?
Anyone who qualifies for asylee status and who requests asylum in the U.S. at a legal port of entry should not be denied; it is only those immigrants who cross the border illegally that will be denied entry into the United States.
If you have any further questions about the new rule for asylum seekers, or you need assistance with any immigration-related matter, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Lightman Law Firm today. We are here to assist you in any way we can.