Because otherwise, with few exceptions, they could incur a presumption of ineligibility for asylum, according to a new rule that came into force early Friday morning.
These are the rules for applying for asylum to the United States.
What is political asylum and who has access in the United States?
The office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the United States indicates that asylum is a form of protection that allows an individual to remain in this country instead of being expelled —deported— to a country where they fear being persecuted or hurt.
“Under US law, people who flee their countries because they fear persecution can apply for asylum. If they are granted asylum, this gives them protection and the right to remain in the United States. People who receive asylum are called asylees,” says UNHCR.
What requirements do I need to request political asylum, and how do I know if I am a candidate?
The requirements to apply for asylum in the United States include:
1. Being physically in the United States and not being a US citizen.
2. Demonstrate that in your country of origin, you suffered or believe you may suffer persecution for:
• its race,
• your religion,
• your nationality,
• your association with a social group,
• your political ideology.
However, following the end of Title 42, DHS issued a final rule in anticipation of a possible increase in migration at the southwest border of the United States. This rule “encourages migrants to take advantage of legal, safe, and orderly avenues in the United States or otherwise seek asylum or protection in another country through which they travel.”
This regulation makes asylum seekers inflexible for certain non-citizens who took advantage of legal channels or did not previously request refuge in any of the countries in which they transited on their way to the United States.
“In the absence of such a measure, which would apply only to those entering the Southwest land border or adjacent coastal borders during a limited and specified date range, the number of migrants expected to travel without authorization to the United States,” says the DHS.