US Asylum Order: Trump moves to block asylum-seekers who cross border illegally

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Europe

02:14

US President Donald Trump has signed an order that makes it more difficult for migrants to get asylum in the United States. The order says people must go to official US ports of entry to qualify for asylum. The order went into effect on Friday. CGTN's Daniel Ryntjes reports.

In Mexico, a caravan of migrants is slowly moving north hoping to claim asylum when they finally reach the U.S. border. But now if they don't cross at official border entry points, they could be swiftly turned away without consideration of their asylum claims. Exceptions will still be made if there's evidence of torture or other extreme cases.

DONALD TRUMP US PRESIDENT "I just signed the proclamation on asylum, very important. People can come in but they have to come in through the ports of entry. And that to me, is a very important thing."

Outside the gates of the White House a group of immigrants from Central America is calling for a new law to end threats to their temporary legal status.

DANIEL RYNTJES WASHINGTON "The Trump administration is justifying this move by saying the U.S. asylum system is simply 'overwhelmed', arguing that this prevents legitimate claims from being processed quickly."

A former asylum claimant and now a national political leader for Latinos Yamira Merino, says this new presidential proclamation is itself illegal.

YAMIRA MERINO, NATIONAL PRESIDENT LABOR COUNCIL FOR LATIN AMERICAN ADVANCEMENT "It goes against what is established law in the United States. Established law in the United States tells you that an asylum seeker doesn't necessarily have to come through a recognized or authorized port of entry. They can come, they can be here and at any point they can ask."

The Trump administration says the law empowers the president to bar entry to foreigners deemed 'detrimental to the interests of the United States'.

The American Civil Liberties Union and other groups have already indicated they will challenge this in court. Daniel Ryntjes, CGTN, Washington.