In an announcement made on Thursday, the U.S. government unveiled a new policy shift concerning asylum seekers caught crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally. This change aims to expedite the rejection process for those individuals who are deemed to pose certain criminal or national security risks, thereby aiming to reduce the influx of crossings.


According to a press release from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the proposed regulation empowers asylum officers to deny claims from migrants with convictions for serious crimes, ties to terrorism, or other threats to public safety. This rejection process could occur within days, a significant departure from the current lengthy procedure that can span years.


Media outlets, including Reuters, had reported on this plan a day earlier. Sources familiar with the matter indicated that the measure will have a limited scope, potentially affecting thousands of asylum seekers annually, a small fraction of the total number of illegal crossings recorded between October 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024.


During a briefing with reporters, a DHS official refrained from providing a specific estimate of how many asylum seekers might be impacted by the proposal. Instead, they emphasized that the rule is targeted at individuals of particular concern rather than applying broadly.


President Joe Biden, a Democrat who assumed office in 2021 with a pledge for a more compassionate border security approach than his predecessor, former President Donald Trump, has faced increasing pressure to address immigration concerns. Biden, in response, has adopted a tougher stance on border security in recent months, reflecting the issue's significance among voters. Meanwhile, Trump, a Republican, is contesting Biden in the upcoming election and has criticized the administration for rolling back some of his stringent border policies.


While the Biden administration has contemplated employing executive action to restrict asylum seekers if border crossings reach a certain threshold, such measures have not been enacted thus far.


The proposed regulation to expedite the denial of asylum claims for individuals deemed as security or criminal risks is slated to be unveiled on Monday. It will be subjected to a 30-day public comment period before the Biden administration aims to finalize it later this year, as disclosed by the DHS official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.