Amid an ongoing border crisis, the Trump administration is proposing charging a new fee to process asylum applicants.
The move comes as the president attempts to crack down on migrant caravans trying to enter the United States.
NBC News reports:
In a presidential memorandum signed Monday, Trump directed his attorney general and acting homeland security secretary to take additional measures to overhaul the asylum system, which he insists “is in crisis” and plagued by “rampant abuse.”
The changes are just the latest in a series of proposals from an administration that is struggling to cope with a surge of migrant families arriving at the southern border that has overwhelmed federal resources and complicated Trump’s efforts to claim victory at the border as he runs for re-election. Most of those arriving say they are fleeing violence and poverty and many request asylum under U.S. and international law.
As part of the memo, Trump is giving officials 90 days to come up with new regulations to ensure that applications are adjudicated within 180 days of filing, except under exceptional circumstances.
And he is directing officials to begin charging a fee to process asylum and employment authorization applications — which do not currently require payment.
It’s unclear how much asylum applicants will be required to pay.
The White House and DHS have not responded to requests for comment.