DHS Secretary Mayorkas said in a recent interview that some migrants coming to the U.S. southern border try to ‘game’ the asylum system. He acknowledged that while this isn’t true for all asylum seekers, it does happen, and those individuals are dealt with accordingly.

Mayorkas’ comment came in response to a question regarding concerns some Americans have about immigration at the southern border. Record numbers of migrants have crossed the southern border over the past three years. Immigration a top issue for the 2024 Presidential election.

The Republican party wants to increase restrictions or bans on asylum to deter those who don’t qualify. The Democrats want to speed up the processing of asylum claims, so those who qualify get asylum faster, and those who do not, are deported without having to wait for years.

Under U.S. law, anyone who is physically on U.S. soil can request asylum, even if they enter the country illegally. Asylum seekers must prove they face danger in their home country due to their nationality, race, religion, political views, or social group. Those who can’t meet this requirement might have to wait years for their case to be heard. Recent updates, like the Recent Arrivals Docket, aim to reduce this wait time.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers created a border security proposal that gives more resources to border agents to deal with the increase in crossings. However, the proposal stalled due to lack of Republican support. The proposal also suggests tougher initial asylum interviews and allows the president to stop asylum processing between ports of entry under certain conditions.

We actively monitor ongoing news about U.S. immigration, including asylum. If you have questions about any employment-based or family-based immigration issue, contact us. Our experienced team of attorneys have deep experience across the wide range of immigration issues and work with our clients every step of the way.