Biden acts to keep asylum ban at US-Mexico border in place longer

FILE PHOTO: A general view of a razor wire fence that was placed by members of the Texas National Guard to inhibit the crossing of migrants, at the border with New Mexico, in El Paso Texas U.S., August 6, 2024. REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez/File Photo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Biden administration will toughen an asylum ban at the U.S.-Mexico border to keep it in place for longer, U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials said on Monday, signaling a desire to further curb illegal crossings.

The change, effective just after midnight, will leave asylum restrictions in place until arrests of migrants crossing illegally drop below a daily average of 1,500 over 28 days, lengthened from the current seven-day period, one of the officials said on a call with reporters.