US announces overhaul of asylum procedures

The Biden administration on Thursday unveiled new procedures to handle asylum claims at the U.S. southern border, hoping to decide cases in months instead of years.

The rules empower asylum officers to grant or deny claims, an authority that has been limited to immigration judges for people arriving at the border with Mexico. Until now, asylum officers only did initial screenings.

The change could have far-reaching effects, but administration officials said they will start slowly and without additional resources.

The United States has been the world’s most popular destination for asylum-seekers since 2017, according to the U.N. refugee agency.