Trump Announces Crackdown On Asylum Seekers

WATCH: Trump readies new rule to curb abuse of asylum system

This morning, the Trump administration announces a new policy that will tighten the restrictions or asylum seekers into the US, significantly reducing the number of Central American migrants eligible to enter the United States through this avenue.

According to Fox News:

The new rule, published in the Federal Register, would require most migrants entering through America’s southern border to first seek asylum in one of the countries they traversed – whether in Mexico, in Central America, or elsewhere on their journey. In most cases, only if that application is denied would they then be able to seek asylum in the United States.

“Ultimately, today’s action will reduce the overwhelming burdens on our domestic system caused by asylum-seekers failing to seek urgent protection in the first available country, economic migrants lacking a legitimate fear of persecution, and the transnational criminal organizations, traffickers, and smugglers exploiting our system for profits,” Homeland Security Acting Secretary Kevin McAleenan said in a statement, describing the “targeted changes” as critical.

That’s exactly it. Many migrants traveling from Central America through Mexico to the United States aren’t just trying to “flee” their homes- they’re specifically trying to get to the USA. When offered the opportunity to legally stay in Mexico, they refuse it.

The latest change is meant to crack down on asylum seekers coming to the U.S. more for economic reasons than to escape persecution in their home countries. The new policy does include a couple other exceptions, mainly for certain victims of human trafficking.

Attorney General Bill Barr said in a statement that the change would curb “forum shopping by economic migrants and those who seek to exploit our asylum system to obtain entry to the United States—while ensuring that no one is removed from the United States who is more likely than not to be tortured or persecuted on account of a protected ground.”

Exactly – while there are those who are truly fleeing danger, “asylum” is not meant for those simply looking for economic opportunity.

There are other ways to immigrate to this country in search of economic opportunity, and applying for “asylum” simply cuts everyone waiting to do it the CORRECT way in line.

But immigrant rights groups, religious leaders and humanitarian groups have said the Republican administration’s policies amount to a cruel effort to keep immigrants out of the country. Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador are poor countries suffering from violence.

Along with the administration’s recent effort to send asylum seekers back over the border, Trump has tried to deny asylum to anyone crossing the border illegally and restrict who can claim asylum.

Reducing the number of asylum seekers, however, would ease the burden on federal agencies currently overwhelmed by the number of people looking to enter the United States. Children and adults crossing illegally are often separated, with the children placed in detention facilities that are lacking in resources, resulting in outcries against the administration’s current practices.

Acting Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Ken Cuccinelli said on “Fox News Sunday” that action was needed to improve the situation. He said the current volume of people trying to enter the U.S. has resulted in poor conditions in detention facilities, and pointed a finger at lawmakers for not doing enough to fix the situation.

Cuccinelli recalled a visit to a facility in El Paso that had 950 people in it, despite a maximum capacity of 800.

“Once you’re over those capacity points, you encounter problems,” he said.

On Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures,” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., cited the urgency for adopting new asylum laws.

Graham said that 30 percent of those who cross into the U.S. with children are “fake families,” and that loopholes are used to let the same children come back over and over, bringing different adults with them.

Long story short – we can’t take EVERYONE. It simply can’t happen. Resources are limited, and the number of poor or needy Central Americans is simply too vast.

We need to make sure those requesting asylum are truly in dire need – and those simply looking for a job are waiting in line like everyone else.