The Biden administration is contemplating adjustments to the nation's asylum system to accelerate the processing and potential removal of migrants arriving at the southern border. This move is seen as an interim step as President Joe Biden weighs a broader executive order to address border crossings later this year.
The proposed change would prioritize certain migrants currently arriving at the border to be processed through the asylum system promptly, rather than being placed at the back of the line. The aim is to process recent arrivals within six months, a significant improvement compared to the current backlog that can take years.
These new rules would specifically apply to individuals who cross between ports of entry and surrender to immigration authorities. The administration hopes that by swiftly processing new arrivals, it can deter others from attempting the journey.
The U.S. immigration court system is currently burdened with a record 3 million cases, with judges handling an average caseload of 5,000 cases each. While these changes may not alleviate the workload significantly, they are part of a broader effort to expedite asylum decisions and deport those whose claims are denied.
Previous administrations, including those of Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump, have also sought to accelerate the asylum process. In 2022, the Biden administration introduced a plan for asylum officers to decide on a limited number of family claims in select cities.
Efforts to speed up initial asylum screenings for families and deport those who do not qualify within a month have been initiated in 45 cities by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. However, data on the outcomes of these expedited screenings has not been released.
While a bipartisan border agreement proposed additional funding for 100 new immigration judges and aides, the legislation did not progress after opposition from certain quarters.
Advocates for immigrants have raised concerns about expediting proceedings for migrants who have endured challenging journeys to reach the U.S. border.
