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Submitted photoWashington D.C. - new scrutiny is falling on U.S. asylum policies as individuals fleeing cartel violence face potential rejection despite a recent designation of some cartels as terrorist groups. The evolving situation highlights a complex intersection of immigration law, national security concerns, and the plight of those seeking refuge.
According to immigration law firm Spar & Bernstein, the U.S.government’s designation of certain cartels as terrorist groups,intended to strengthen law enforcement efforts,may inadvertently disqualify some asylum seekers. The firm argues that individuals who paid smugglers for assistance reaching the U.S., or those who paid “protection money” to cartels in their home countries, could be perceived as having ties to these organizations, leading to the denial of their asylum claims.
Individuals like Luis, a taxi-cab co-operative member, report facing extortion demands from gangs. He and others are concerned that their past interactions with criminal elements, born out of necessity for survival, could jeopardize their chances for asylum.
US Citizenship and Immigration services (USCIS) spokesman Matthew J. Tragesser stated that U.S. asylum law protects a “very limited number of persecuted aliens.”
