The Biden administration will announce new steps on Thursday to speed up the screening of asylum seekers for possible risks to public safety or national security.
The suggested rule will essentially shift these screenings to an earlier point in the asylum process, making it more likely that migrants posing a potential threat could be promptly deported.
The rule still needs to undergo a public comment period and will not be the major immigration executive action expected from the administration, according to a knowledgeable source.
The proposal, first reported by Politico, would increase the consequences of the initial asylum screening.
Under current rules, thorough background checks are done during the interview stage, after migrants have declared their intent to seek asylum and U.S. asylum officers have confirmed their eligibility.
With the new proposal, asylum officers would assess both initial eligibility and the risk of potential threats posed by individuals.
The proposal is part of a set of executive actions the Biden administration is considering instead of the unsuccessful bipartisan border bill, which would have imposed stricter restrictions on asylum.
The Biden administration is also reportedly considering executive actions to simplify the process for long-term undocumented immigrants to legalize their status, especially if they are close relatives of U.S. citizens.
Democrats are pushing the Biden administration in different directions. On Tuesday, a group of Democrats from battleground districts called for enforcement solutions focused on the border, while on Wednesday, members of the Congressional Hispanic and Progressive caucuses called for relief for undocumented residents.
