MIAMI – Changes are coming to the U.S. southern border.
From the White House, President Joe Biden announced an executive action Tuesday capping the number of migrants who can claim asylum at the border.
After seven consecutive days of more than 2,500 Border Patrol encounters, migrants crossing the border for asylum would be turned away.
The U.S. would only start accepting migrants claiming asylum at the border again if the daily average drops to 1,500 encounters or less.
Miami immigration attorney Antonio Revilla discussed the move with Local 10 News’ Sanela Sabovic.
“It’s a little bit too late. Too late in the sense that this is a political football,” he said. “Everybody is entitled in this country to apply for asylum, but now it’s going to be a lot more difficult to apply.”
There would be some exceptions for children who are crossing as unaccompanied minors.
“The concerning aspect of it is, you’re a parent and you think you might not be able to apply for asylum or you might be rejected or turned away at the border and you might send your child,” said Revilla. “Imagine a child traveling from Honduras all the way to the U.S. border by themselves. Imagine the dangers that they are going to be placed into.”
Revilla says while the policy is new and was just issued Tuesday, he believes some of his clients who have come to South Florida and sought asylum will worry for their loved ones who want to do the same.
“Their relatives that also came through the border like they did might have a much harder time applying for asylum,” he said.
And to apply for asylum, one must express a fear of persecution.
The new order only applies to unscheduled arrivals at the border. Migrants who make an appointment can still claim asylum.