US says asylum seekers to be sent back to Mexico for duration of immigration proceedings

Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen announced Thursday that the United States has told Mexico that individuals entering the US illegally or entering without proper documentation and seek asylum will be sent to Mexico to wait for the duration of their US immigration proceedings.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, individuals entering illegally or without proper documentation “trying to enter the US to claim asylum will no longer be released into our country, where they often disappear before a court can determine their claim’s merits.”

They will instead “be processed by DHS and given a ‘Notice to Appear’ for their immigration court hearing.”
Asylum seekers from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador must wait outside the United States until their immigration proceedings are concluded, according to a Department of Homeland Security official speaking on background during a conference call with reporters Thursday morning.

Rep. Luis Gutierrez, an Illinois Democrat retiring at the end of his term next nonth, repeatedly chastised Nielsen during the hearing for “lying,” and linked the border wall to Christmas, thanking God that there wasn’t a wall in Jesus’ way.

“Shame on us for wearing our badge of Christianity during Christmas and allowing the secretary to come here and lie,” he concluded.

Nielsen responded that “calling me a liar are fighting words,” and defended herself as Gutierrez walked out of the room.

Texas Republican Rep. Louie Gohmert later asked Nielsen if the biblical figures Mary and Joseph would qualify for asylum.

Nielsen responded, “Yes.”

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