Democrats push for expanded asylum capacity in border talks

Congressional Democrats on Wednesday made it clear they’re pushing to expand the U.S. capacity to process asylum seekers as part of a border security deal they’re negotiating with Republicans.

“Assistance to Central America, [addressing] the root problems causing people to flee their countries and coming to America, and immigration judges — a great shortage there — to process asylum cases,” said Senate Appropriations Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., during the first conference committee meeting on border security.