US: Biden administration introduces broad asylum restrictions at US-Mexico border

A proposal by the Biden administration this week outlined broad asylum restrictions at the southern border. The proposal could bar tens of thousands of migrants that are looking to enter the United States from claiming asylum in an effort to deter illegal crossings.

The Biden administration on Tuesday unveiled a proposal outlining broad restrictions on asylum claims in an effort to deter illegal crossings to the southern border. Under the new restrictions, migrants that do not schedule an appointment at a US border port of entry or avail of the humanitarian programs for certain nationalities would not be eligible to claim asylum with some exceptions. Migrants must also first seek and be denied protection in countries they pass through in order to claim asylum in the US.

While Biden sought to reverse the immigration policies of his Republican predecessor Donald Trump, his administration has sought to address the record numbers of migrants looking to enter the US. The US leader has also come under criticism from advocates and some of his fellow Democrats for embracing Trump-era restrictions.

The new restrictions are also similar to that of the Trump administration, which was blocked by federal courts and has also received similar opposition. The American Civil Liberties Union pledged to fight the new policies in court if implemented. Activists have referred to the restrictions as a “transit ban.”

The rule, however, would exempt unaccompanied minors while it would apply to families and single adults. The measure would be temporary and be limited to a two-year period with the possibility of extension. A Biden administration official told reporters that the rule would aim to “fill the void that Congress has left by taking no action” to revamp immigration laws or increase funding for border security.

Meanwhile, Seattle has become the first city in the US to explicitly ban discrimination based on caste – a social system dating back thousands of years and is practiced in South Asia. This comes as rights groups have expressed support for the measure amid a push for caste discrimination to be recognized under the existing state and federal anti-discrimination laws, including lawsuits against employers who have large workforces in South Asia.

However, some Hindu-American groups have opposed the measure, saying that the measure would target their community and may discourage firms from hiring Hindus in major positions.