How President Biden’s Executive Order will affect asylum seekers in WA State

A major change to U.S. immigration policy just dropped: 

President Biden this morning signed an Executive Order limiting asylum claims from people who cross the border between ports of entry.

This is an evolving story today as we get details of the order: but reporters who have been briefed by the Biden team say the new policy would effectively close the southern border after unauthorized crossings exceeded 2,500 in a day – so it would take effect almost immediately.

Under the order, people who cross would instead be returned to their home country or Mexico. They would still be allowed to request an appointment to seek asylum at a legal port of entry. There are exceptions for unaccompanied children and victims of trafficking.

This comes after months of negotiations on a bipartisan border bill in congress – a compromise deal that was ultimately rejected by Republican members.

Soundside host Libby Denkmann spoke with both Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal and Northwest Immigrant Rights Project Executive Director Malou Chávez about today’s order, and what it will mean for the immigrants here in Western Washington who are seeking asylum.