WH Press Secretary on Proposed New Asylum Rule: ‘What We Are Providing Is Expanded Legal Pathways’

(CNSNews.com) – White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday that the difference between the Biden administration’s new proposed asylum law and the Trump-era immigration rule known as the Safe Third Country agreement, is that the Biden administration is providing “expanded legal pathways,” which the Trump administration failed to do.

“The administration proposed a rule this week that would make migrants ineligible for asylum if they cross the southern border without first asking for refuge in a third country. At least generally speaking, it’s kind of similar to a Trump-era rule,” a reporter said.

“Administration officials told reporters on a call this week it wasn’t their first or separate — second preference to do it this way. Is this rule a recognition that the administration’s early border strategy just isn’t working? And is it realistic that President Biden’s campaign promises to end all Trump-era immigration restrictions — was that unrealistic?” the reporter asked.

“There is a huge difference here, which is: What we are providing is expanded legal pathways, and that is important to make note — is that that is something that the past administration didn’t do, and that is something that we are doing here,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.

“Look, on day one, the president put forward a comprehensive immigration — immigration reform proposal, and he — that’s showing that the president was taking this very seriously, and the way that we see this is Congress needs to act, and what was happening currently, right now, is Congress is not acting,” she said.

“So what you’re seeing from the Department of Homeland Security is they are using the tools that is being presented to them so that we can deal with the sit- — with this situation and do it in a safe and oder- — orderly and humane way, and that’s what we’re doing here,” the press secretary said.

“And let’s not forget, if you look at the parolee program that we put forth — remember the president announced on January 5th some — some — some of the proposals that — on how he was going to move forward. He talked about expanding the parolee program,” Jean-Pierre said.

“You have four countries — Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Haiti, and if you look at that program, it’s been very successful.  It has brought down legal — illegal migration by 97 percent and so we see that is working, but we are — this president is going to use the tools that he has — the Department of Homeland Security, as you’re seeing, is using the tools that they have in front of them to deal with this real issue,” she said.

“And let’s not forget, you know, when it comes to Title 42, it’s going to lift on May 11th. So we believe that we had to take steps to deal with this. We can’t leave it on the NGOs. We can’t just leave it on the communities. We also have to take steps to deal with this issue,” the press secretary said.

As CNSNews.com previously reported, the new proposed rule required migrants to seek asylum protection in a country that they passed through on the way to the United States and to make an appointment at a port of entry.

“Under the proposed rule, individuals who circumvent available, established pathways to lawful migration – including those new processes announced on January 5 as well as a newly-available mechanism for migrants from any nationality to schedule a time and place to arrive at a port of entry – and also fail to seek protection in a country through which they traveled on their way to the United States, would be subject to a rebuttable presumption of asylum ineligibility in the United States unless they meet specified exceptions,” the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice announced on Tuesday.

As CNSNews.com previously reported, former Vice President Mike Pence said the proposed rule is similar to the “Safe Third Rule,” which the Trump administration used to require migrants to seek asylum in another country they pass through on the way to the United States.

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