Statement for the House Judiciary to Address Any Abuses to Asylum System while Protecting Refugees

In a statement submitted to the House Judiciary Committee, which convened a hearing on alleged abuses of the asylum system at the United States-Mexico border, Human Rights First urged Congress to address any systemic problems while safeguarding the ability of the U.S. asylum system to protect refugees fleeing persecution.

Human Rights First identified several recommendations for steps that should be taken to address any abuses that may be impacting the asylum system. These include:

• Increase immigration court staffing and resources.
• Increase fraud and abuse detection resources and utilize multiple anti-fraud tools.
• Effectively implement asylum parole guidance.
• Use cost-effective alternatives to detention.
• Eliminate the asylum filing deadline which bars legitimate refugees from asylum.