In recent years, many families, unaccompanied children, and adults have arrived at the US-Mexico border fleeing persecution and seeking safety. Instead of responding appropriately to this humanitarian situation in accordance with our laws, the Trump administration unlawfully and cruelly cut off access to asylum at the border. The Biden administration, in its first 10 months, incomprehensibly and unacceptably continued many Trump-era anti-asylum policies and largely failed to restore access to protection. As of October 2021, there is virtually no way to approach a port of entry and seek asylum.

This backgrounder explains why it is critical to restore access to asylum at ports of entry and steps the Biden administration should immediately take to do so.