President Trump should give priority to those who follow asylum application rules and penalize those who illegally cross onto U.S. soil. That course of action would help those who most need it while also securing the border and providing for the concerns of Trump’s political base.
There is an opportunity here. As Reuters reported on Sunday, Trump’s border policy has led to an increasing number of asylum applicants gathering at proper entry points along the U.S.-Mexican border to appeal for asylum. This is a very positive development that will save lives. It also gives Trump the ability to reward those who are following the law by prioritizing their cases.
At the same time, Trump should deprioritize asylum applications from those who illegally cross the border with children. The U.S. has a limited number of asylum spaces but a very large number of applicants. It thus makes both legal and procedural sense to focus on those who follow the law. It also makes moral sense. Consider that many of those who are following the law at the border are those less physically able to cross the deserts alone: women with young children. Surely these individuals deserve our care.
