Missouri Senator Josh Hawley has called on the Biden administration to terminate its alleged "mass amnesty" immigration policy, expressing concerns about noncitizen asylum seekers having their cases closed without rulings.
Missouri Senator Josh Hawley has vehemently criticized the Biden administration's approach to immigration, specifically its policy allegedly leading to "mass amnesty" for asylum seekers.
According to a report by Syracuse University's Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), over 350,000 asylum cases have been closed by the administration since 2022, primarily involving migrants with no criminal history. This move has sparked outrage among Republican lawmakers, including Senator Hawley.
"The Biden administration's purported ‘mass amnesty’ for illegal aliens undermines the immigration system and is an affront to everyone following the legal path to the United States," Senator Hawley asserted.
Senator Kevin Cramer, along with 20 other Republican senators, has penned a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Attorney General Merrick Garland, demanding clarification on the report. They seek details on the number of cases dismissed and how the administration plans to curb the potential encouragement of illegal immigration.
Former Acting ICE Director Tom Homan labeled the reported action "another insult to the American legal system," emphasizing that it fails to address the ongoing surge in border crossings.
Senator Cramer condemned the policy, stating, "This action allows these individuals to remain indefinitely in the United States without undergoing the proper legal processes required to either grant or deny their asylum claims."
He further expressed his concern that the policy incentivizes illegal immigration, undermining the integrity of the immigration system.
Senator Hawley's demand for an end to the "mass amnesty" policy aligns with the broader concerns raised by Republican lawmakers. They argue that the administration's approach has exacerbated the border crisis, putting the country's security and sovereignty at risk.
The Biden administration has faced heightened scrutiny over its handling of immigration, particularly its response to the surge in illegal border crossings. Critics contend that the administration's policies have emboldened smugglers and cartels, leading to a humanitarian crisis at the border.
Despite the mounting criticism, the Biden administration has defended its immigration policies, emphasizing a more humane approach and a commitment to addressing the root causes of migration in Central America.
However, Republican lawmakers remain steadfast in their opposition, demanding a return to Trump-era policies that they argue were more effective in deterring illegal immigration. The ongoing feud over immigration policy is likely to intensify as the Biden administration faces mounting pressure to resolve the humanitarian crisis at the southern border.
