The US authorities are preparing to start a limited experiment in which they will allow migrants who cross the border without authorization to be evaluated to determine if they can request political asylum.
According to a statement shared by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), these migrants would be evaluated by asylum agents while they are in custody, which would speed up the process.
The news agency AP indicated that this experiment will begin next week with a small number of undocumented immigrants.
This measure is part of the preparations for when the so-called Title 42 ends, a rule that suspended the right to request asylum for pandemic reasons. This measure is expected to end on May 11.
The new measure will offer migrants access to legal advice, and if expanded, it could generate a significant change in the way in which undocumented immigrants who arrive in the US to request asylum are processed.
According to DHS officials, they will work with a legal services provider who will represent asylum seekers during so-called “credible fear interviews,” which are used to determine whether a migrant has legitimate reasons not to be deported back to their home country. country of origin.
Although they did not identify this legal services provider, they maintain that access to this legal representation will be essential for the plan to move forward.
The aforementioned outlet stressed that DHS officials have requested to remain anonymous, since the new measures have not been publicly announced.
These credible fear interviews will be carried out in temporary facilities of the Office of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which will presumably have telephone lines that can be used for the hearings.
It is important to remember that CBP policy limits immigration detention to 72 hours, so that will be the time you will have to complete the interview and other security checks.
