Trump signs proclamation limiting migrant asylum

By Umar Farooq

WASHINGTON

U.S. President Donald Trump signed a proclamation Friday denying migrants who cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally the ability to seek asylum in America.

The move is in reaction to the caravans of migrants headed north to the southern border of the U.S., who planned to seek asylum once they arrived, however applies to any migrant that enters the country illegally.

Border security has already been tightened, with 7,000 military troops being sent to secure the southern border and "harden" points of entry.

"The continuing and threatened mass migration of aliens with no basis for admission into the United States through our southern border has precipitated a crisis and undermines the integrity of our borders," Trump said in the proclamation.

The largest of the caravans is reported to be around 5,000, with other ones following suit in smaller sizes.

Beginning in Honduras, it reached a peak of 7,000 people as many from other Central American nations joined in the 1,553-mile (2,500-kilometer) journey to reach the U.S. by foot.

The caravan mostly consists of Hondurans who are fleeing from violence and poverty in their home country.

Trump said that he was signing this proclamation to "to channel these aliens to ports of entry" instead of trying to go around these ports across the 2,000-mile (3,200 kilometers) border.

"The entry of large numbers of aliens into the United States unlawfully between ports of entry on the southern border is contrary to the national interest," Trump said."Our law has long recognized that aliens who seek to lawfully enter the United States must do so at ports of entry."

The proclamation will last for 90 days, and then it is the job of the Secretary of State, Attorney General, and Secretary of Homeland Security to recommend a renewal or extension.

While any migrants that cross into the U.S. illegally will not be granted asylum, Trump said that they will be allowed certain protections but did not explain what those were.