Patricia D. McGurk-Daniel, Chief Patrol Agent of the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), recently reiterated the organization's stance on asylum laws through a reposted tweet from the CBP's main account.
McGurk-Daniel stated, "Criminal smuggling organizations prey on migrants – lying about U.S. immigration laws and the dangers of the journey. Asylum laws do not provide for relief solely for economic reasons or for general violence."
According to information available on the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) website, when Title 42 ended on May 11, CBP began enforcing Title 8 laws. Despite this enforcement leading to swift deportation, smugglers persist in spreading misinformation about America’s immigration system to exploit migrants desperate to claim asylum.
Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas clarified these changes prior to the lifting of Title 42. He said, "Starting at midnight, people who arrive at our Southern Border will be subject to our immigration enforcement authorities under Title 8 of the United States Code. Here is what that means: If anyone arrives at our southern border after midnight tonight, they will be presumed ineligible for asylum and subject to steeper consequences for unlawful entry, including a minimum five-year ban on reentry and potential criminal prosecution."
The DHS website further explains that consequences under Title 8 enforcement include: migrants being placed into immigration removal proceedings; rapid removal from the U.S. to Mexico or their home country; being barred from reentering the U.S. for at least five years if removed; and criminal prosecution for illegal reentry after removal from the country.
Mayorkas added, "The transition to Title 8 processing will be swift and immediate. We have surged 24,000 Border Patrol Agents and Officers, and thousands of troops, contractors, and over a thousand asylum officers and judges to see this through. I want to be very clear, our borders are not open. People who cross our border unlawfully and without a legal basis to remain will be promptly processed and removed."
