New U.S. Border Asylum Rule Highlights Need for Additional Reforms

Please see below statement from Refugees International’s Deputy Director for the Americas and Europe Dr. Yael Schacher:

“Refugees International is gratified that the rule on the processing of asylum seekers issued yesterday by the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security addresses several of the concerns Refugees International raised when it was proposed. 

The rule provides that asylum seekers at the border will have the merits of their claims assessed by asylum officers and the ability to appeal denials to the immigration courts, albeit on too fast a timeline that will make it difficult for asylum seekers to effectively gather evidence and secure attorneys. Nothing in the proposed procedures lessens the workload of the asylum office and the immigration courts, which will need additional resources. 

More important, crucial reforms are not addressed in this rule, namely increased provision of counsel for asylum seekers, clarified standards of eligibility for asylum that are uniformly used, and access to territory and humane reception for asylum seekers at the border—in lieu of Title 42 and Remain in Mexico.

Refugees International will continue to work with the administration towards achieving these goals.”

For press inquiries, please contact Refugees International’s VP for Strategic Outreach Sarah Sheffer at ssheffer@refugeesinternational.org. 

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PHOTO CAPTION: Children look from the Mexican side of the U.S.-Mexico border fence at dusk in Nogales, Arizona. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)