Quick Bytes
- President Biden issues an order to suspend entry for migrants crossing borders irregularly.
- The order includes exceptions for unaccompanied children and certain humanitarian cases.
- ACLU plans to challenge the new regulation, similar to its successful block of Trump’s 2018 ban.
- New regulation alters asylum eligibility and the process for credible fear interviews.
Understanding Biden’s Border Entry Suspension
President Biden’s recent proclamation, based on the Immigration and Nationality Act, aims to manage the influx of migrants by suspending entry for those crossing between official ports. This move mirrors a similar action taken by President Trump in 2018.
The Biden administration’s order, effective June 5, restricts asylum claims for migrants entering irregularly, with exceptions for unaccompanied minors and others under specific circumstances. The ACLU has signaled its intent to file a lawsuit against this new policy. The suspension triggers when daily apprehensions exceed 2,500 and will lift only when they fall below 1,500 for a week.
Asylum seekers using the CBP One app at ports of entry are not affected by the suspension. However, the new regulation deems individuals crossing without authorization ineligible for asylum unless they meet certain exemptions or demonstrate “exceptionally compelling” reasons for their entry.
The regulation also introduces a ”shout test” for migrants to express fear of persecution proactively, replacing the previous system where officers were required to ask. This change raises concerns about potential deportations without proper fear screenings, as documented in past studies.
