Immigration issues are making news headlines as of late, especially those involving the U.S.-Mexico border. Kentucky residents may be concerned about immigrant rights, particularly those of immigrants seeking asylum. Those individuals may want to learn more about a presidential proclamation President Trump recently signed regarding those entering the U.S. to seek asylum.
Per the proclamation, immigrants seeking to enter the U.S. for asylum must do so at official ports of entry. They cannot apply for asylum if they entered the U.S. elsewhere on its borders. This means that immigrants who cross over into the U.S. from the Mexico border anywhere other than at an official port of entry lose their eligibility to claim asylum for a minimum of 90 days, according to the Department of Justice.
This rule, however, will not apply to unaccompanied children or those who meet a heightened “reasonable fear” standard, per the Convention Against Torture. In addition, those individuals who crossed the U.S. border prior to the proclamation may still be permitted to apply for asylum. However, if they leave the U.S. and then re-enter it outside an official port of entry while the proclamation is still effective, they will be subject to the terms of the proclamation and may not be able to claim asylum.
This news may be very troubling to many people in the U.S. Those who come to our nation seeking asylum do so out of a very real fear that they will face persecution in their home country or are otherwise in grave danger. Given this new proclamation, immigrants who are seeking asylum will want to ensure they know how to legally do so, so that they are not subject to deportation and removal to a country that is unsafe.
