President Joe Biden’s administration on Thursday will begin denying asylum to migrants who show up at the U.S.-Mexico border without first applying online or seeking protection in a country they passed through, according to a new rule released Wednesday, as U.S. officials warned of difficult days ahead as a key limit on immigration is set to expire.
The rule comes just a day before the U.S. ends use of Title 42, which had allowed it to limit migration in the name of preventing the spread of COVID-19. The change has led to concerns about whether the U.S. has the necessary tools to control migration.
The rule announced Wednesday is part of new measures meant to crack down on illegal border crossings while creating new legal pathways, including a plan to open 100 regional migration hubs across the Western Hemisphere, administration officials said. U.S. officials have detailed steps they’ve taken to prepare for what many are expecting to be a substantial increase in migrants attempting to enter the U.S.
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