For months, asylum seekers have been prohibited from filing their claims at U.S. border crossings under a much-criticized Trump administration policy. The migrants’ efforts are causing traffic delays at Arizona crossings because U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials had to barricade lanes used by cars legally entering the U.S. from Mexico, officials said. Under a policy by the Trump administration known widely as “metering,” the asylum seekers must wait in an unofficial line in Mexico until U.S. authorities call them up in a process that usually lasts several months. Another policy, colloquially known as “Remain in Mexico,” requires asylum seekers to return to Mexico after they have made credible-fear claims to justify their asylum requests and wait there while their immigration cases are pending. Doug Ducey, a Republican, said his first concern is public safety and that he is confident U.S. officials will resolve the border traffic problems.

Source: Los Angeles Times December 04, 2019 02:03 UTC