The Department of Homeland Security said it has no plans to announce a crackdown on border crossings anytime soon, despite a report that said officials as early as Friday might start turning people away at the border before they can enter the country and claim asylum.
The Washington Post reported Wednesday that Central American asylum seekers who are unable to demonstrate a “reasonable fear” of persecution in Mexico might be refused entry into the U.S. on Friday under a pending plan called “Remain in Mexico.” Currently, asylum applicants are allowed to stay in the U.S. until their matter is heard by an immigration judge, but the Post said the tougher change could be introduced as early as Friday.
But Katie Waldman, a spokeswoman for DHS, told the outlet the department had no intention of immediately rolling out such changes.
“The president has made clear — every single legal option is on the table to secure our nation and to deal with the flood of illegal immigrants at our borders,” Waldman told the Washington Examiner. “While we have recently taken a number of steps to address the caravan, including the president proclamation and deploying the military for port of entry hardening operations and force protection purposes, DHS is not implementing such a new enforcement program at this time.”
“We will ensure — as always — that any new program or policy will comply with humanitarian obligations, uphold our national security and sovereignty, and is implemented with notice to the public and well coordinated with partners,” she added.
The possibility of new measures comes as President Trump has faced blowback for sending U.S. military personnel to the border to assist DHS staff with several caravans comprised of Central American migrants. He suffered another setback this week when a federal judge nominated by former President Barack Obama issued a temporary nationwide restraining order preventing the enforcement of his proposal to deny asylum to applicants who cross into the U.S. illegally between ports of entry.
A change in policy could draw a complaint from Mexican President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, as it is unclear whether Mexican law permits foreign nationals to remain within its borders while they wait to hear the outcome of their asylum cases in the U.S.
