Somewhere in between cities being overrun with asylum seekers and GOP talking points about human trafficking lies the truth. And the truth is that something has to be done. The asylum loophole has been exploited for too long now.
But why destroy the asylum guidelines in the process? If the petition is found to be w/o merit, the subject will be deported. If the system is deficient on hearing petitions then get more judges. If the admin is doing a piss poor job of making that clear to countries elsewhere, then put money in making that clear. I also remain unconvinced that an asylum claim due to economic reasons is w/o merit. If we (or another country) embargos or coups a 3rd and it causes unsustainable hardship on the population, it has merit. Dying from bombardment or starvation is a wash. If big corp. destroys the natural resources or western powers collectively make a region uninhabitable in the equator from wanton carbon output then the petitions should have merit.
The loophole is that asylum seekers are released into the US once they are on American soil while they wait to hear their case. If they were in their country of origin that’s where they would wait.
Because we don't have enough judges to expeditiously hear the claims w/o overcrowding detention or keeping people in unreasonable lengthy detention on our dime. Catch and release works and something like 90+% of show up to their hearings. Or we could, you know, expand the visa numbers instead of attempting to trigger a recession to bring down wage inflation. God forbid increased immigration be due to demand ending in illegitimate asylum claims.
All of this is true and is the basis of the republicans falsely claiming “catch and release.” However, it doesn’t mean we have to allow asylum seekers into the country. Im not against expanding visas. We have a major labor shortage and a low birth rate. We need immigrants. Buuuuut we cannot allow for manipulation of the asylum process either.
And therein lies the rub. Dems should not concede to a GOP plan that throws the baby (asylum) out w/the bathwater (baseless claims). Dems being perpetual appeasers will of course accept this concession just like they will in the debt limit fight.
I mean, you yourself said it. I even bolded it for you. As to the why? I am against all GOP nonsense involving "great replacement theory". They've been targeting asylum for decades. It is one of the very few ways in which people migrate into this country. You close this "loophole" and then family ties "loophole" is next, marriage "loophole" after, "anchor baby" loophole follows. As long as it keeps the browns out.