(AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Migrants on the US-Mexico border

A new proposal would allow asylum officers to determine whether a migrant is a national or public safety risk due to ties to terrorism, a threat to national security or a criminal background –and ineligible to stay in the United States.

Numerous surveys have confirmed that immigration is among the top issues for Americans in the upcoming elections. American citizens can comment from today on a new proposal on asylum for migrants crossing the United States-Mexico border illegally.

Currently, asylum seekers in the US face multiple screenings and background checks within different departments, like the defence or state department.

Even if a migrant claiming asylum is found to be facing criminal charges, they still undergo a “credible fear” screening, which is an interview where people can explain their fear of going back to their country of origin – could be fear of persecution because of their nationality, race, religion, political views or membership in a “particular social group.”

This credible fear screening automatically allows any migrant, even with a criminal background, to continue the process.

The US is trying to get criminal background and security checks cleared in the first steps, and depending on the charges, decide to move on with the claim of asylum and get a credible fear screening, or refuse asylum right away and remove as soon as possible that person from the United States.

This can change the process from weeks or months to days.

Sometimes asylum seekers with some criminal charges are even sent for a hearing to defend their asylum claims, which may not take place for years.

And then at the end of that hearing, even if the migrant is not granted asylum, the chances of being removed are very low.

This means that someone who must be removed from the country because of fear of national or public security might end up staying in the US.

United States citizens will be able to comment on the measure until June 12.