by But last year, 800,000 people applied for asylum, a 63 percent increase from the previous year. So it may not be a new problem, but it is certainly a growing problem. Most likely that’s it. We return to what we discussed just a few minutes ago. Why are more and more people fleeing their countries of origin? Why do they seek asylum in the United States?
But the asylum system as it stands now is essentially one of the best ways to enter and stay in the United States. Because it takes years. And as we’ve mentioned, you arrive at the border and say you’re seeking asylum. And part of the problem is determining who has legitimate rights. So not everyone who comes and asks for asylum is actually a legitimate asylum seeker. Immigrants, as we have said, understand and know how the system works. I have been to the border. I have been with immigrants. Some of them are fleeing persecution, but others understandably come here in search of a better life. Absolutely correct. And our asylum system is designed where there is an initial evidentiary threshold that one must meet. One must demonstrate a credible fear of persecution, and that is intentionally a low standard by law, and the policy behind this is to ensure that we do not mistakenly return someone to persecution. And that’s why it’s a low standard. The maximum asylum standard, the merit stage, that standard is higher, and the difficulty is that a large number qualify under that lower standard and historically have, and far fewer ultimately qualify, but the time between those moments of adjudication is years.
I guess I’m wondering if, generally speaking, you think the asylum system, as conceived 70 years ago by the United Nations, is meeting this moment that you say is so different from what has happened before. I think the asylum system needs reform. That is why three senators have led the initiative to reform it. And I won’t go into great detail about what those reforms should be because, in fact, that is the subject of the legislation that is being negotiated.
I want to ask you about a provision of that Senate bill. President Biden recently came out in favor of the provision, saying he would give it the authority to close the border once border encounters reach a certain number. Do you support that idea? And do you think it’s practical? You know, I don’t want to delve into what the legislation will and won’t contain. I won’t do that. I must respect the senatorial process that is underway.
Do you think what’s happening on the southern border makes it harder to make the case for expanding it? legal Migration in this country? That due to the existence of the problem we will not actually deliver part of the solution? You correctly note that many immigrants come seeking economic opportunity and will ultimately not qualify for asylum. Wouldn’t it be more orderly and wouldn’t it be responsible governance to be able to offer a legal path to cover what we have, which is a labor need, and eliminate exploitative smugglers and give people a path to arrive legally? , in a safe and orderly manner, to do the work we need? They can send remittances home. They can return home when they finish their work. Isn’t that an element of a viable immigration system?
