ACLU sues to block Biden asylum ban at US-Mexico border

A new policy implemented by the Biden administration that prevents most migrants caught crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally from seeking asylum has been met with a lawsuit from a U.S. civil rights group. The American Civil Liberties Union argues that these restrictions, which were put into effect on Wednesday, are in violation of U.S. asylum law and that proper regulatory procedure was not followed by President Biden. Immigration has become a prominent issue in the upcoming Nov. 5 elections, with millions of migrants being apprehended at the southwest border during Biden’s presidency. Former President Donald Trump, Biden’s Republican challenger, has promised to take a strong stance on immigration if reelected.
In recent months, Biden has taken a tougher stance by supporting a Senate bill that aims to allocate more resources to the border and strengthen enforcement capabilities. The newly imposed ban is similar to the policies implemented during the Trump era, which aimed to prevent migrants from seeking asylum at the border. It utilizes the same legal authority as the travel bans that restricted individuals from predominantly Muslim nations and other places.

Under the Biden measure, migrants caught crossing the border illegally could face rapid deportation or be turned back to Mexico. However, certain exceptions are made for unaccompanied children, individuals facing serious medical or safety threats, and victims of trafficking.

Despite these measures, there are still unanswered operational questions. It remains uncertain how the U.S. will efficiently deport migrants from distant and uncooperative countries, as well as how many non-Mexican migrants Mexico will accept under the new enforcement regime.