By any standard of measurement, the immigration situation at the southern border of the United States is in crisis mode. In fact, according to the Daily Signal, it has now moved from a “crisis” to an “existential threat.”
President Donald Trump has promised throughout his campaign and presidency to address this situation, and has made some significant strides in that direction. The latest is his stand on asylum seekers.
According to a presidential memorandum addressed to Acting Homeland Security Secretary Keven McAlleenan and Attorney General William Barr, President Trump is making some changes to the current process of asylum seekers.
“Our immigration and asylum system is in crisis as a consequence of the mass migration of aliens across our southern border,” the memo reads. “In Proclamation 9844 of February 15, 2029, I declared a national emergency to address the security and humanitarian crisis at the border. That emergency continues to grow increasingly severe.”
The memo goes on to call for the following:
“Propose regulations setting a fee for an asylum application not to exceed the costs of adjudicating the application…and other applicable statutes, and setting a fee for an initial application for employment and authorization for the period an asylum claim is pending.”
The regulations will need to go into effect within 90 days, with application adjudications being allowed 180 days. This is, of course, “absent exceptional circumstances.” The current wait time for such cases to be processed is almost two years.
The memo also seeks to bar anyone from entering or attempting to enter America illegally from obtaining a work permit.
“If the Democrats don’t give us the votes to change our weak, ineffective and dangerous Immigration Laws, we must fight hard for these votes in the 2020 election,” the president tweeted.
Some consider the changes somewhat harsh. After all, the term “asylum seekers” implies a person has faced hardship in their home nation, and is seeking a reprise from America. However, many immigrants abuse the asylum system, and use it as a way to jump ahead in line. Therefore, the changes, though they might seem less than welcoming, are definitely needed to make the process as fair as possible.
Added to the changes he has already implemented or is in the process of getting passed, President Trump should also focus on removing those illegal immigrants who currently should be deported. More than a million individuals currently remain in America, illegally, though they possess deportation orders. Their presence here in the country costs tax payers dearly in the form of health care costs and other such expenses. This says nothing about the cost citizens pay when they are victimized by these individuals who join with established gangs to commit atrocities on American soil.
Because illegal aliens with deportation orders are allowed to stay, it communicates to others, “why not go ahead and try to come in illegally, they don’t make you go back?” What better way to convince those who are thinking about coming to America illegally not to try it than to see a mass deportation of those who have already been there and done that?
President Trump has made great strides towards getting the immigration crisis in hand. Unfortunately, there is still more work to do. Thankfully, he seems willing and able to finish the job!
~ Liberty Planet
