Continued Apprehensions on South Texas Border Following Implementation of ‘Asylum Ban’

Under a scorching 102-degree sun on Wednesday, U.S. Border Patrol agents apprehended six women and young children in a dusty area near the border wall that is popular for illegal border crossings. These apprehensions came under the new executive order issued by President Joe Biden on Tuesday, which requires migrants to express a fear of returning to their home countries or meet other strenuous circumstances to be considered for U.S. asylum.

The women, two young girls, and a small infant will be processed at a U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility. However, migrant advocates argue that the new asylum rule is essentially an “asylum ban” as it sets a high bar for eligibility, potentially excluding many individuals seeking asylum.

Under the new rules, migrants may still be considered for asylum if they are unaccompanied children, have acute medical conditions, or are victims of extreme human trafficking. The Department of Homeland Security believes that these new rules will enable quick removal of individuals without a legal basis to remain in the United States, strengthening enforcement and deterring irregular border crossings.

Immigration lawyer and Harlingen Mayor Norma Sepulveda, who attended the White House announcement of the asylum changes, welcomes immigration reform. She emphasizes the need for congressional action to permanently reform immigration policies, as the current laws incentivize irregular border crossings. Sepulveda believes that Biden’s efforts are a step in the right direction but stresses the importance of revamping immigration laws to address the root causes of irregular migration.