Courts are being asked by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to summarily dismiss asylum claims and send migrants to pursue options in third countries. The safe third country agreement, created by the Trump administration, is a network of countries who have agreed to take U.S. asylum seekers. Included in the list of countries are Ecuador, Honduras, and Uganda, among others.

This is the latest effort by the current administration to reduce immigration to the United States. In October, the Justice Department’s Board of Immigration Appeals found that immigration judges should consider third-country removal prior to hearing an asylum case in the United States. In November, DHS asked immigration judges to dismiss nearly 5,000 cases. It’s uncertain why the DHS asked for so many dismissals.

The third country agreement gives the U.S. the ability to remove and relocate individuals to any of the countries in the program. In return, these countries typically receive some preferred treatment, like additional security support.  In 2019, an interim final rule allowed the U.S. to reach agreement with El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras as third country partners. The agreement bars individuals from any of those countries, even if they’re deemed safe for asylum. Afterward, several lawsuits challenged the agreement.

In response, deniers of the program state it is eroding U.S. humanitarian programs. The program is another avenue for meeting Trump administration removal goals. Last month, DHS stated they are projecting nearly 600,000 removals by the end of 2025. The previous peak of 400,000 removals within a year was under the Obama administration.

As always, Immigration USA actively monitors ongoing U.S. immigration news. If you have questions about any U.S. immigration related issue, contact us. Working with an experienced attorney ensures you get the right advice based on the most recent laws. In an ever-evolving immigration policy landscape, we’re with you every step of the way.