A bipartisan immigration agreement has been introduced by a group of senators and the White House, reshaping U.S. border policy and granting the president extensive powers to address illegal border crossings. Senators James Lankford, Chris Murphy, Kyrsten Sinema, along with Biden administration officials, negotiated the deal, which aims to tighten access to the asylum system during surges in illegal immigration, enforce stricter initial asylum screenings, and increase deportations for those ineligible for U.S. refuge. This legislative effort would mark the first significant update to the U.S. immigration system since the 1990s. If the agreement becomes law, the president would gain emergency authority to reject most migrants during periods of increased border crossings, effectively pausing asylum law. Migrants crossing illegally during such times would face immediate deportation, along with a one-year ban on repeated illegal entries. The emergency authority would expire after three years, and asylum processing would be maintained at official border crossings. The proposal includes provisions for expedited asylum reviews, tighter rules, and the establishment of a new asylum review process to expedite decisions. Additionally, the agreement allocates funds for extra resources and personnel. Although facing some resistance, this bipartisan deal signifies a notable shift in President Biden’s approach to immigration.
