For quite some time now, there’s been much talk of asylum seekers coming across the U.S.-Mexico border. Some have claimed many are misappropriating the angle to gain access the U.S. Is it true?
Border officials are ready to find out.
Hence, along with asylum officials, BP agents have begun conducting “credible fear” interviews to gain a better understanding of the crisis.
The initiative was announced in May, in response to a big ol’ backlog of asylum applications being submitted to the south. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services began training border security to assist in the interview process.
And now it begins.
Under the Credible Fear Pilot Program, there are now 55 agents participating in the interviews.
And there are lotsa interviews to be held — good grief. The Daily Caller reports:
The program aims to help reduce the number of migrants who are waiting for a decision of their asylum claim. In the backdrop of the ongoing illegal immigration crisis, the Trump administration has been faced with an unprecedented number of asylum claims. The U.S. immigration court’s active backlog, for example, surpassed one million at the end of August 2019.
55 to help 1 mil? Hmmm…that may not be enough.
But everybody’s doing what they can.
More explanation from TDC:
The Trump administration is doing what it can to help relieve the flow of active cases that are bottlenecking. Two soft-sided facilities recently opened up in Laredo and Brownsville, Texas, in order to process more asylum claims. The cases pertain to the administration’s “Remain in Mexico” program. Judges from across the country can adjudicate cases via video conference at these temporary structures.
Despite some criticism over security guys and gals assisting immigration vetting, the newbies do undergo 5 weeks of training prior. And, as USCIS spokeswoman Jessica Collins assures, everything’s being reeeeal supervised:
“Importantly, USCIS provides training to Border Patrol agents so that they can be thoroughly trained on the credible fear screening process, and like every officer conducting credible fear interviews, show that they understand all applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures before being allowed to conduct interviews on their own. All credible fear determinations will have to be reviewed and signed by a supervisory asylum officer before a final determination can be made. This humanitarian and security crisis requires an all-hands-on-deck approach from DHS.”
There certainly is a crisis down toward the bottom of the map. And the situation also begs another question: If you have 1 million people who are legitimately in need of asylum, in what manner does the U.S. absorb so great a number? Not to mention: If a large portion is rejected, what will be the Dems’ next move?
At least there’s now an effort being made to gain clarity. The alternative — people just yelling at each other on TV — doesn’t seem to be working all that well.
Better beef up that 55, though.
-ALEX
See 3 more pieces from me:
Sen. John Kennedy In Light Of The Border Ban: The Dems’ Stance On Immigration Is ‘On-The-Pipe Crazy’
An Elderly Man Walks Into The Hospital For A Bladder Procedure, Walks Out Circumcised – Accidentally
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