Biden Places New Restriction on US Southern Border
2024-06-06
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1President Joe Biden announced an executive action Tuesday that temporarily places restrictions on the number of migrants unlawfully entering the United States.
2The action is called a proclamation.
3It says people who cross the southern border of the United States illegally will not be eligible for asylum unless there is an extraordinary reason why they should be permitted to stay.
4Speaking at the White House, Biden said, "These actions alone aren't going to fix our immigration system, but they can help us a good deal in better managing what is a difficult challenge."
5The proclamation says that temporary asylum restrictions will go into effect when the average number of "encounters" is 2,500 or more.
6The U.S. Border Patrol counts all interactions with people unlawfully entering the U.S. as an encounter. This includes arrests, expulsions and releases.
7The limitations will be suspended when the average number of encounters is less than 1,500.
8In both cases, the average is for a seven-day period.
9The restrictions took effect Wednesday.
10Information first reported by CBS News shows that U.S. Border Patrol officials recorded 3,000 apprehensions on May 20.
11They also recorded an average of 3,700 apprehensions each day during the first 21 days of May.
12The new rules affect most persons illegally crossing the southern U.S. border.
13A Department of Homeland Security official (DHS) told VOA that migrants who cross the southern border and who are being processed for fast removal will meet with an asylum officer.
14The asylum officer will decide if there is a reason why the person can seek asylum.
15But the migrant can only seek asylum if they express "a fear of persecution or torture."
16Immigration activists say this is not fair.
17Amy Fischer is director of refugee and migrant rights at Amnesty International USA.
18She told VOA, "If you're able to shout and claim asylum, then you might be able to get through.
19But what we know is that people don't always speak English.
20They don't always know that is the way that they have to seek safety."
21Officials who did not want to be identified spoke to VOA about the new measures.
22A DHS official said the measures are in effect for migrants from all over the world.
23"In terms of returns to Mexico, we will continue to return nationals of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela per our previous arrangements," the official added.
24There are exceptions in the proclamation for "unaccompanied children" and "victims of a severe form of trafficking in persons."
25Migrants facing medical emergencies and those with valid visas or other lawful permission can enter.
26People who use lawful entry processes, like the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's CBP One mobile application or other lawful pathways also are not affected.
27A DHS official said those who illegally cross when the restrictions are in place and do not meet asylum requirements will be quickly removed.
28They will also face at least a five-year ban on reentering the U.S. and possible criminal charges.
29During a phone call with reporters, officials from DHS and the Justice Department said the restrictions are necessary.
30They said summer is a time when migrant encounters usually increase.
31The action on border security also takes place during an election year.
32American voters have shown concern about the issue.
33Immigration activists have criticized the measure saying it takes away asylum protections.
34Amnesty International's Fischer said the proclamation will prevent more people from getting asylum.
35She said it would make it more difficult for people to make their claims.
36Fischer said the action "does not sort out people that have false or ineffective asylum claims.
37What it does is, it sorts out the most vulnerable."
38The American Civil Liberties Union, or ACLU, said it will bring legal action to stop the restrictions.
39Lee Gelernt works with immigrants' rights for the ACLU. He told reporters in an email that the group will oppose the proclamation in court.
40Biden administration officials say the U.S. will continue to meet international requirements.
41"These steps will strengthen the asylum system, preventing it from being overwhelmed and backed up by those who do not have legitimate claims," a DHS official said.
42I'm Mario Ritter, Jr.
1President Joe Biden announced an executive action Tuesday that temporarily places restrictions on the number of migrants unlawfully entering the United States. 2The action is called a proclamation. It says people who cross the southern border of the United States illegally will not be eligible for asylum unless there is an extraordinary reason why they should be permitted to stay. 3Speaking at the White House, Biden said, "These actions alone aren't going to fix our immigration system, but they can help us a good deal in better managing what is a difficult challenge." 4The proclamation says that temporary asylum restrictions will go into effect when the average number of "encounters" is 2,500 or more. The U.S. Border Patrol counts all interactions with people unlawfully entering the U.S. as an encounter. This includes arrests, expulsions and releases. 5The limitations will be suspended when the average number of encounters is less than 1,500. In both cases, the average is for a seven-day period. 6The restrictions took effect Wednesday. Information first reported by CBS News shows that U.S. Border Patrol officials recorded 3,000 apprehensions on May 20. They also recorded an average of 3,700 apprehensions each day during the first 21 days of May. 7Who is affected? 8The new rules affect most persons illegally crossing the southern U.S. border. 9A Department of Homeland Security official (DHS) told VOA that migrants who cross the southern border and who are being processed for fast removal will meet with an asylum officer. The asylum officer will decide if there is a reason why the person can seek asylum. But the migrant can only seek asylum if they express "a fear of persecution or torture." 10Immigration activists say this is not fair. 11Amy Fischer is director of refugee and migrant rights at Amnesty International USA. She told VOA, "If you're able to shout and claim asylum, then you might be able to get through. But what we know is that people don't always speak English. They don't always know that is the way that they have to seek safety." 12Officials who did not want to be identified spoke to VOA about the new measures. A DHS official said the measures are in effect for migrants from all over the world. "In terms of returns to Mexico, we will continue to return nationals of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela per our previous arrangements," the official added. 13Exceptions 14There are exceptions in the proclamation for "unaccompanied children" and "victims of a severe form of trafficking in persons." Migrants facing medical emergencies and those with valid visas or other lawful permission can enter. People who use lawful entry processes, like the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's CBP One mobile application or other lawful pathways also are not affected. 15A DHS official said those who illegally cross when the restrictions are in place and do not meet asylum requirements will be quickly removed. They will also face at least a five-year ban on reentering the U.S. and possible criminal charges. 16During a phone call with reporters, officials from DHS and the Justice Department said the restrictions are necessary. They said summer is a time when migrant encounters usually increase. The action on border security also takes place during an election year. American voters have shown concern about the issue. 17Criticism 18Immigration activists have criticized the measure saying it takes away asylum protections. 19Amnesty International's Fischer said the proclamation will prevent more people from getting asylum. She said it would make it more difficult for people to make their claims. Fischer said the action "does not sort out people that have false or ineffective asylum claims. What it does is, it sorts out the most vulnerable." 20The American Civil Liberties Union, or ACLU, said it will bring legal action to stop the restrictions. 21Lee Gelernt works with immigrants' rights for the ACLU. He told reporters in an email that the group will oppose the proclamation in court. 22Biden administration officials say the U.S. will continue to meet international requirements. 23"These steps will strengthen the asylum system, preventing it from being overwhelmed and backed up by those who do not have legitimate claims," a DHS official said. 24I'm Mario Ritter, Jr. 25Aline Barros reported this story for VOANEWS. Mario Ritter, Jr. adapted this report for VOA Learning English. 26______________________________________________ 27Words in This Story 28eligible -adj. able to be considered for something 29manage -v. to have control of something 30challenge -n. a difficult task 31apprehension -n. to detain a person to find out if they are doing something wrong 32persecution -n. to treat someone unfairly especially because of some difference such as race, religion or belief 33arrangement -n. an informal agreement 34vulnerable -adj. easily hurt or harmed 35back up -v. (phrasal) to cause a process to slow resulting in delays 36We want to hear from you.