US immigration officials aim to restrict asylum at border

WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Trump administration said Thursday it will deny asylum to migrants who enter the country illegally, invoking extraordinary presidential national security powers to tighten the border as caravans of Central Americans slowly approach the United States.

The measures are meant to funnel asylum seek-

to circumvent such crossings on the nearly 2,000mile (3,200-kilometer) border. But the busy ports of entry already have long lines and waits, forcing

back to make their claims.

The move was spurred in part by caravans of Central American migrants slowly moving north on foot, but will apply to anyone caught cross- of miles from the border.

He has made little mention of the issue since the election but has sent troops to the border in response. As of Thursday, there are more than 5,600 US troops deployed to the border mission, with about 550 actually working on the border in Texas. The military is expected to have the vast majority of the more than 7,000 troops planned for the mission deployed by Monday, and that number could grow.

Trump also suggested he’d revoke the right to citizenship for babies born to non-US citizens on American soil and erect massive “tent cities” to detain migrants. Those issues were not addressed by the regulations Thursday.

The administration has long said immigration