A new report claims that the Biden-Harris administration is planning to increase the processing speed of illegal immigrants at the northern border between the United States and Canada as the number of illegal immigrants crossing the border is rapidly increasing.
According to internal Department of Homeland Security documents obtained by CBS News, the Biden-Harris administration’s new effort will involve two changes to the way U.S. officials process illegal immigrants under the “Safe Third Country Agreement” the U.S. currently has with Canada.
The Safe Third Country Agreement allows the United States and Canada to return asylum seekers that cross the northern border since both the United States and Canada are considered “safe” for individuals requesting refuge.
According to CBS News, the first change to the Safe Third Country Agreement will require illegal immigrants to have documents prepared during U.S. asylum screenings to help officials determine whether the individuals are subject to the agreement. CBS News noted that illegal immigrants were previously allowed to ask for additional time to obtain the necessary documentation.
The second proposed change to the agreement will reduce the length of time illegal immigrants have to consult with lawyers prior to the asylum screening process. Instead of having a 24-hour minimum, illegal immigrants will have a four-hour minimum to consult with lawyers. According to CBS News, the change matches the Biden-Harris administration’s recent change to the minimum time granted to illegal immigrants at the southern border between the United States and Mexico.
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CBS News reported that U.S. Border Patrol has set a record this year for apprehensions at the northern border. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection statistics, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents have already apprehended 16,500 illegal immigrants compared to 2,200 in 2022 and 10,000 in 2023.
CBS News reported that the policy changes were expected to take effect on Wednesday in an effort to address the rise in illegal immigration at the northern border. In a statement to CBS News, the Department of Homeland Security emphasized that it was committed to delivering “tough consequences for noncitizens who do not have a lawful basis to remain in the United States.”
The Department of Homeland Security added, “DHS carefully reviewed its implementation of the Safe Third Country Agreement with Canada and concluded that it could streamline that process at the border without impacting noncitizens’ ability to have access to a full and fair procedure for determining a claim to asylum or equivalent temporary protection.”
