El Salvador Asylum Cooperative Agreement: What You Need to Know
Recently, the Trump Administration signed a new asylum agreement with El Salvador that has been met with mixed reactions. The agreement aims to curb the flow of migrants from Central America to the United States by requiring Salvadorans to apply for asylum in their own country, rather than passing through other countries to reach the U.S. border.
Here’s what you need to know about the El Salvador Asylum Cooperative Agreement:
What is the El Salvador Asylum Cooperative Agreement?
The agreement, signed on September 20, 2019, between the governments of the United States and El Salvador, requires Salvadorans who seek asylum at the U.S. border to first apply for protection in El Salvador. If they are denied, they may then seek asylum in the U.S. This new regulation is called a “safe third country” agreement, which is intended to reduce the number of asylum seekers arriving at the U.S. southern border.
Why was the agreement created?
U.S. officials have argued that these agreements can help reduce the number of people who are able to create a “credible fear” that would allow them to remain in the United States while their asylum claims are processed. Authorities believe that many migrants are falsely claiming asylum and using the legal process to enter and stay in the country without proper authorization, which has led to a backlog of cases.
What has been the response to the agreement?
Critics have argued that countries like El Salvador lack the capacity to provide adequate protection for asylum seekers, and that the conditions there are not safe. These critics also believe that this agreement will only exacerbate the dangers that migrants face in their home countries and along their journey to the United States. According to statistics, El Salvador has one of the highest homicide rates in Central America, with gang violence and political turmoil causing widespread insecurity.
In conclusion, the El Salvador Asylum Cooperative Agreement is a controversial new legal measure aimed at reducing the influx of asylum seekers at the U.S. southern border. While U.S. officials argue that the agreement will help curtail abuses in the asylum system, critics believe that it will endanger the lives of migrants and undermine their fundamental right to seek protection from persecution. It remains to be seen whether this new policy will ultimately achieve its intended goals, or whether it will lead to unintended consequences.