U.S. finalizes rules by May 11th to limit asylum access to Mexico border

Ted Hesson

WASHINGTON, May 11, Reuters – Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced on Friday that the U.S. would finalize a new regulation by then which will deny asylum for many migrants who are caught illegally crossing the U.S. – Mexico border.

According to this new regulation, migrants who pass through another nation on the way to the United States without seeking refuge or who fail to use legal paths to reach the United States will be presumed to not be eligible for asylum.

This measure is part of President Biden’s plan for addressing an anticipated rise in illegal immigration after COVID restrictions, known as Title 42, end next week. It also addresses the pandemic health emergency.

Title 42, which was introduced in March 2020 to combat the spread and occurrence of the coronavirus within crowded prisons, first came into effect at the beginning of this pandemic. This allows border agents the ability to quickly expel many migrants back to Mexico.

As a result, border arrivals are expected to increase due to the pent up demand among migrants and their perception that they will get in.

Mayorkas, during a Brownsville press conference, said that the anticipated increase in border crossings would be “extremely difficult”.

(Reporting and editing by Chris Reese, Rosalba o’Brien, and Ted Hesson from Washington)