Undermining Asylum: Political Maneuvers Threaten the Right to Seek Refuge in the UK

 

Amidst the intense political climate and election-year posturing, the matter of the right to seek asylum in the United States has become a highly disputed issue. In March 2023, demonstrators gathered near the White House to protest reported plans by the Biden administration to implement new asylum restrictions at the Southern Border. The complex landscape of presidential politics makes it difficult to objectively evaluate the various proposals, as they run the risk of undermining the longstanding legally protected right to seek asylum.

The right to seek asylum, which is unequivocally enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is a principle upheld by US immigration law. This right allows individuals to apply for asylum upon entry into the country, regardless of their status or the designated port of arrival. Despite these established principles, politicians from both sides have introduced proposals that contradict these rights. Congressional negotiators have treated the right to seek asylum as a bargaining chip in discussions related to foreign policy funding for countries like Ukraine and Israel.

A recent attempt by Senate negotiators to reach a deal that would raise the asylum screening standard faced opposition from former President Donald Trump, who categorically declared his lack of support for the legislation. In response, President Joe Biden asserted that the deal would grant him the authority to “shut down the border” if there was a certain level of daily migrant crossings.

The right to seek asylum, however, is particularly crucial during times of mass influxes. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948 by the UN General Assembly, was not only intended to prevent the recurrence of atrocities witnessed during World War II but also to ensure that refugees fleeing the Holocaust would not face rejection.

While hosting large numbers of refugees can present challenges for any country, adhering to the responsibilities outlined in international agreements is not optional but rather a matter of duty. Restricting the number of asylum seekers and closing borders to those fleeing persecution contradicts the principles of a responsible government. As the issue takes center stage in the 2024 Presidential Race, it is imperative to uphold the values that protect the right to seek asylum, regardless of political considerations.