But last year, 800,000 people applied for asylum, and that’s a 63 percent jump over the previous year. So it may not be a new problem, but it is certainly a growing problem. It’s definitely that. Let’s go back to what we discussed just a few minutes ago. Why are more people leaving their countries? Why are they seeking asylum in the United States?
But the asylum system as it currently stands is essentially one of the best ways to enter and stay in the United States. Because it takes years. And as we have mentioned, you arrive at the border, you say you are seeking asylum. And part of the problem is determining who has legitimate claims. Therefore, not everyone who comes and asks for asylum is actually a legitimate asylum seeker. Immigrants, as we said, understand and know how the system works. I’ve been to the border. I have been with immigrants. Some of them are escaping persecution, but some of them understandably come here to seek a better life. Absolutely correct. And our asylum system is designed where there is an initial evidentiary threshold that one must meet. One has to show a credible fear of persecution, and that is a deliberately low standard by law, and the policy behind that is to make sure we don’t accidentally return someone to prosecution. And therefore it is low level. The ultimate standard of asylum, the merit stage – that standard is higher and the difficulty is that a large number qualify for that lower standard and have histories, and far fewer ultimately, but the time between these points of adjudication is years.
I guess I’m wondering if you feel in general that the asylum system, as devised 70 years ago by the United Nations, is meeting now that you said it’s so different from what it’s been before? I think the asylum system needs reform. That’s why three senators are leading the charge to reform it. And I’m not going to go into a lot of detail about what those reforms should be because, in fact, that’s what the legislation that’s being negotiated is about.
I want to ask you about a provision of this Senate bill. President Biden recently spoke in favor of the provision and said it would give him the authority to close the border once border encounters reach a certain number. Do you support this idea? And do you think it is practical? You know, I don’t want to get into what the legislation will and won’t contain. I won’t do that. I have to respect the Senate process that is going on.
You think what’s happening on the southern border makes it harder to argue that it should be extended legal immigration to this country? That because the problem exists, we won’t actually deliver part of the solution? You are correct in noting that many immigrants come for economic opportunity and ultimately will not qualify for asylum. Wouldn’t it be neater and wouldn’t it be responsible governance to be able to deliver a legal pathway to fill what we have, which is a labor need, and cut out the exploitative smugglers and give individuals a path to get there legally, safely , in an orderly manner, to perform the work we need? They can send remittances home. They can go home when their tasks are finished. Isn’t this part of an operating migration system?
