Biden Expands Asylum Restrictions at the Southern Border

Biden administration officials have credited the policy for leading to the dramatic reduction in illegal crossings.

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Immigrant advocates have said President Biden’s order is putting would-be asylum seekers in danger by not permitting them the ordinary access of the asylum system.

President Biden on Monday expanded the restrictions on asylum that have led to a dramatic drop in illegal crossings into the United States, a move that ensures the crackdown at the southern border will stay in effect for the foreseeable future.

The executive action builds on the restrictions that Mr. Biden announced in June, which blocked the vast majority of asylum claims at the U.S.-Mexico border and allowed agents to turn people back quickly.

Under the June order, the asylum ban would lift only when the number of people trying to cross illegally each day dropped below 1,500 for one week, which has not happened yet. The latest action requires that the numbers stay down for 28 days straight.

The restrictions come at a critical moment in the presidential campaign. Immigration consistently ranks as a top concern among voters, and Democrats are taking a far tougher line on the issue than in the past.

Immigration is a serious vulnerability for Ms. Harris; many voters say they believe that former President Donald J. Trump would handle the border better as president than she would. Last week, in a visit to Douglas, Ariz., a border town, Ms. Harris promised to continue Mr. Biden’s crackdown on asylum.

While the border numbers have fallen precipitously since June, critics say Mr. Biden’s executive actions not only violate the law but also go against the traditional American promise of allowing anyone who steps foot on U.S. soil the opportunity to seek protection.

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