Trump Administration Says America Is Closed To Asylum Seekers

WASHINGTON, D.C.-The Trump administration has effectively closed the United States to asylum seekers and will continue expanding deportations, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said, outlining the administration’s hardline immigration agenda that could affect migrants seeking protection in the U.S.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Miller said the administration has entered into agreements with other countries to receive people seeking asylum instead of allowing them to remain in the United States.

“I think what’s important point is that this administration on the asylum court is being implemented, international agreements all over the world to take in our asylum seekers,” he said. “So, America’s doors are closed fully to asylum seekers. We’ve set up agreements where if you want asylum, then we will find a country elsewhere in the world.”

Miller defended the administration’s broader immigration policy, saying ending illegal immigration was the most humanitarian approach because it disrupts transnational criminal organizations involved in migrant smuggling, drug trafficking and human trafficking.

“The most humanitarian thing that we can do is which is what we are doing and have done, which is to end illegal immigration,” Miller said.

Miller also claimed many asylum applications filed by migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border lacked merit, arguing that many applicants were economic migrants rather than people fleeing persecution.

Miller credited President Donald Trump’s immigration policies with sharply reducing migrant releases at the southern border.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, there have been 13 or 14 consecutive months without a single person released across the southern border. It’s never been achieved before,” he said.

On deportations, Miller said additional funding approved for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), along with administrative changes, would strengthen enforcement and removal operations.

“You’ve seen continuing budgetary reforms at ICE to make sure the resources are being allocated efficiently as possible towards actual enforcement and removal operations,” he said. He added that new funding approved through Congress “will allow deportation numbers to continue to climb.”

Responding to questions about Haitians whose temporary legal protections have been affected by recent legal developments, Miller said those who no longer have legal status in the United States should be deported.

Asked whether the administration considered Haiti safe despite U.S. travel advisories, Miller replied: “For Haitians. Absolutely.”

“The fact that there might be pockets of Haiti with this higher crime rates… it has never been the case that having communities that have high crime rates is a basis for asylum. Never has been, never will be,” he said.

Since returning to office, the Trump administration has tightened border controls, accelerated deportations and restricted access to several humanitarian immigration programmes introduced under former President Joe Biden. Several of its immigration measures, including efforts to end automatic birthright citizenship for certain children born in the United States, remain the subject of ongoing court challenges. (IANS)