Led by Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., a group of 30 Republican senators is partnering with Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., in introducing a resolution to repeal the Biden administration’s asylum rule. They say the president’s plan “exacerbates” the border crisis.
In order to remove a rule by the Biden administration that the lawmakers say would “illegally upend” the United States’ asylum system, they are introducing a “joint resolution of disapproval” under the Congressional Review Act (CRA).
The Biden administration’s new rule is aimed at cutting the time for processing asylum claims from years to months. It was first announced in August 2021 and officially inserted into the federal register on March 29, per report.
The rule, from the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security, will allow U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officers to evaluate the asylum applications of people who would be eligible for expedited removal from the country, after such individuals pass a required screening for a credible fear of persecution or torture from their country of origin. The current rule has led to a tremendous backlog of cases that end up dragging on for years, as only immigration judges can decide these matters.
“The Biden administration is sending a clear message: our borders are open, you will not be kept in custody, and you will not have to see a judge to stay here. In a year where we have surpassed 2 million illegal crossings at the southern border, the proposed rule will only lead to more illegal migration for an already overwhelmed immigration system,” said Johnson.
The senator continued: “We strongly oppose the Biden Administration’s reckless attempt to unconstitutionally rewrite the asylum laws in America. The changes the administration is proposing cannot come from unelected bureaucrats, but rather from Congress.”
Biggs called on the Biden administration to “end its illegal catch and release policies and enforce the law.”
“Open border zealots within the Administration are drastically remaking our immigration system under the guise of enhancing humanitarian protections,” said Biggs.
“This couldn’t be further from the truth. This proposed rule weakens the integrity of our asylum system and will facilitate mass illegal alien incursions. Rather than focusing on releasing aliens as quickly as possible, the Biden Administration should reimplement Trump Administration policies that worked to secure our border,” he added.