The pandemic affected millions of asylum seekers

Since President Trump took office in 2017, he has attempted to reduce the number of asylum and refuge permits issued in the US annually.

After the appearance of the Coronavirus in the North American territory, the current government closed the borders and prohibited the entry of asylum and refuge seekers.

This measure will remain active at least until May 20, 2020. However, the commissioner of the Customs and Border Protection Office (CBP) pointed out the possibility of extending this deadline to protect public health.

That is very concerning since there are millions of immigrants waiting at the borders of Mexico to make their request for asylum or refuge.

The current situation at the borders

The conditions in which asylum seekers live at the borders is very worrying.

Typically, they live in temporary shelters and sleep in tents while they wait their permits to enter the US.

These establishments are becoming increasingly crowded for two reasons:

1. Many immigrants arrive daily at the borders with the illusion of requesting asylum or refuge in the US.
2. Many of the immigrants who already live there have an active case. However, because the offices of the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) remain closed due to the health emergency, their cases are overdue and they must wait there until they receive an official response.

Asylum-seekers face several risks:

1. COVID-19 spreads uncontrollably in overcrowded places. Therefore, these shelters could be hotbeds of the virus.
2. These makeshift shelters do not have medical supplies or professional staff to attend any kind of health emergency.
3. They do not always have food and live on donations made by immigrant rights advocates or local communities.
4. The waiting time is currently longer due to the pandemic.

New immigration policies worsen the situation

Besides the circumstances in which immigrants live on the borders, President Trump implemented new immigration policies that worsen the situation for people seeking asylum and refuge:

• If an immigrant is caught trying to cross the borders illegally, they can be deported almost immediately. These express deportations are a threat to Central American territory since it does not have the necessary infrastructure to counter the impact of a massive Coronavirus outbreak.
• All active immigration cases and hearings were automatically rescheduled by the USCIS virtual system. This means that immigrants who already had an appointment scheduled must wait even longer in these shelters.

Use this time in the best way

It is well known that the current situation for asylum and refuge applicants in the country is very delicate.

However, there are always different options to be able to start a new life in the US.

Protecting our health must be our priority and it is important to avoid going to the borders. Actually, USCIS is offering different methods to apply for entry and residence in the country.

If you have any questions about an immigration issue or relating to a case you may have currently in progress, then please don’t hesitate to contact us for a FREE Phone Consultation with one of our expert immigration attorneys.

Simply call Motion Law today at: (202) 918-1799.