Senators are locked in a standstill regarding immigration policies that could impact the approval of President Joe Biden’s funding request for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. Despite the White House’s push, negotiators remain unable to reach a deal and plan to continue discussions throughout the weekend.
Amidst this, restricting the asylum system is a top priority for Republicans. Ava Benach, a 25-year immigration lawyer, was interviewed by West Wing Playbook to discuss the potential impact of the proposed measures on migrants seeking asylum.
Benach explained that the reforms aim to make it more difficult for migrants to qualify for asylum, including rewriting the ‘credible fear’ standard and limiting the government’s ability to parole people into the United States. Additionally, efforts are underway to reinforce Safe Third Country agreements, which require immigrants to demonstrate that they sought asylum elsewhere before coming to the United States.
The discussions have raised concerns over how these changes could affect asylum seekers’ ability to pass the credible fear interviews, which are typically conducted soon after their arrival in the U.S. Benach highlighted how raising the standard for passing these interviews could result in fewer individuals being given the opportunity to apply for asylum.
While the Trump administration’s Safe Third Country Agreements have faced legal challenges, Benach noted that if Congress enacts these reforms into law, it could significantly alter the legal landscape for immigration policies.
Moreover, Benach expressed concern about the possible impact of limiting the government’s authority to parole individuals into the U.S., especially for Biden’s border management strategy. She emphasized the importance of parole as a means to address crises and protect people in danger.
The conversation delved into Benach’s criticism of the proposed policies, mentioning that a complete overhaul of the immigration system is necessary to address the needs of American families and businesses. She underscored the need for an efficient and reasonable visa system to complement restrictions on paroling individuals into the U.S.
Furthermore, Benach emphasized the misguided belief that harshness and cruelty will deter people from fleeing dangerous and violent situations. She stressed that the lack of opportunities for legal migration is the primary cause of illegal migration.
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