Congressman Biggs Supports President Trump's Efforts to Streamline Consideration of Asylum Claims

GILBERT, ARIZONA – Last week, the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security proposed a new rule to streamline consideration of asylum claims. The rule gives the federal government needed tools to combat fraudulent claims and to work through the 1-million case backlog. Congressman Andy Biggs issued the following statement:

"I support the Trump administration's efforts to restore order and credibility to our nation's asylum system. Eligible individuals in need of relief from persecution in their home countries should have an avenue to seek that relief. But our system has become a tool that aliens unfairly use to gain illegal access to our nation and to slow down their deportation process.

"Since President Trump took office in 2017, the backlog of asylum cases has nearly doubled. Yet in 2019, nearly 70 percent of asylum claims were denied. I suspect the denial rate will continue to rise as immigration judges work through the drastic increase in applications from the 2019 migrant caravans. This new rule will allow immigration officials to more easily identify and adjudicate baseless asylum claims, protecting our asylum seekers and those truly in need of protection."

Congressman Andy Biggs is a second-term Representative from Arizona's Fifth Congressional District, representing parts of Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, and Queen Creek. Congressman Biggs is a member of the House Judiciary and Science, Space, and Technology committees. He lives with his wife, Cindy, in Gilbert.