Securing the Border

<RULE> DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY <CFR>8 CFR Parts 208 and 235</CFR> <DEPDOC>[CIS No. 2778-24; Docket No: USCIS-2024-0006]</DEPDOC> <RIN>RIN 1615-AC92</RIN> DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE <SUBAGY>Executive Office for Immigration Review</SUBAGY> <CFR>8 CFR Part 1208</CFR> <DEPDOC>[A.G. Order No. 6053-2024]</DEPDOC> <RIN>RIN 1125-AB32</RIN> <SUBJECT>Securing the Border</SUBJECT> <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD> U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”), Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”); Executive Office for Immigration Review (“EOIR”), Department of Justice (“DOJ”). <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD> Final rule; request for comments. <SUM> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD> On June 3, 2024, the President signed a Proclamation under sections 212(f) and 215(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (“INA”) suspending and limiting the entry of certain noncitizens into the United States during emergency border circumstances. DHS and DOJ (“the Departments”) issued a complementary interim final rule (“IFR”) shortly thereafter. This final rule responds to public comments received on the IFR, makes certain revisions to the regulatory text, and seeks comment on potential changes to the Circumvention of Lawful Pathways rule as well as changes that parallel modifications made by the subsequent Proclamation. </SUM> <EFFDATE> <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD> <E T="03">Effective date:</E> This rule is effective at 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on October 1, 2024. <E T="03">Comment period for solicited comments:</E> Comments on the extended and expanded applicability of the Circumvention of Lawful Pathways rebuttable presumption in Section IV of this preamble and changes that parallel modifications made by the subsequent Proclamation described in Section II.C.1 of this preamble must be submitted on or before November 6, 2024. The electronic Federal Docket Management System will accept comments prior to midnight eastern time at the end of that day. </EFFDATE> <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD> <E T="03">Docket:</E> To view comments on the IFR that preceded this rule, search for docket number USCIS-2024-0006 on the Federal eRulemaking Portal at <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov.</E> <E T="03">Comment period for solicited additional comments:</E> You may submit comments on the specific issues identified in Sections II.C.1 and IV of this preamble via the electronic Federal Docket Management System at <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov,</E> to DHS Docket Number USCIS-2024-0006. Follow the website instructions for submitting comments. Comments submitted in a manner other than the one listed above, including emails or letters sent to the Departments' officials, will not be considered comments on the rulemaking and may not receive a response from the Departments. Please note that the Departments cannot accept any comments that are hand-delivered or couriered. In addition, the Departments cannot accept comments contained on any form of digital media storage device, such as CDs/DVDs and USB drives. The Departments are not accepting mailed comments at this time. If you cannot submit your comment by using <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov,</E> please contact the Regulatory Coordination Division, Office of Policy and Strategy, USCIS, DHS, by telephone at (240) 721-3000 for alternate instructions. <FURINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD> <E T="03">For DHS:</E> Daniel Delgado, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Immigration Policy, Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans, DHS; telephone (202) 447-3459 (not a toll-free call). <E T="03">For EOIR:</E> Lauren Alder Reid, Assistant Director, Office of Policy, EOIR, DOJ, 5107 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041; telephone (703) 305-0289 (not a toll-free call). </FURINF> <SUPLINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD> <HD SOURCE="HD1">Table of Contents</HD> <EXTRACT> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">I. Public Participation</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">II. Executive Summary</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Background and Purpose</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Basis for the IFR</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. The Departments' Experience With the IFR</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Legal Authority</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. Changes From the IFR to Final Rule</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Changes to the IFR's Thresholds</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Clarifying Changes to Regulatory Text</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">3. Other Technical Changes</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D. Rule Provisions</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">E. Severability</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">III. Public Comments and Responses</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Legal Authority and Background</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Legality Concerns</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">a. General Comments on Domestic Law</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">b. Statutory Conditions and Limitations on Asylum Eligibility</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">c. Expedited Removal</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">d. General Comments on International Law</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">e. UNHCR Guidelines on International Protection</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">f. 2000 Protocol To Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Justification and Statements on Need for the Rule</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">a. Rule Is Unjustified, Unsubstantiated, or Arbitrary</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">b. Lack of Resources Does Not Justify the Rule</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">c. Rule Does Not Acknowledge Factors Contributing to Migration</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">d. Other Comments Related to the Departments' Justification</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. General Feedback on the IFR</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. General Support</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. General Opposition</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">a. Negative Impacts on Noncitizens and Others</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">i. Conflicts With Humanitarian Values</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">ii. Procedural and Due Process Concerns</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">(1) General Concerns</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">(2) Access to Counsel, Unrepresented Applicants, and the Ability or Time To Prepare</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">(3) Noncitizens' Ability to Have Their Claims Heard</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">(4) Issues With Asylum Officers, Detention Conditions, and Quality of Credible Fear Determinations</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">(5) Fairness or Risks Associated With Process</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">iii. Impacts on Specific Vulnerable Populations, Discrimination Concerns</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">iv. Impacts on Criminal Enforcement</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">v. Negative Impacts on Other Affected Entities</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">b. Negative or Minimal Impacts on Immigration System and Government Operations</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">i. Undermines the Administration's Promises and Goals</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">ii. Similarity to Actions of Past Administration</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">iii. Would Be Ineffective or Not Achieve Its Intended Outcomes</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">c. Negative Impacts on the U.S. Economy, Workforce, Citizenry, Public Health, and Safety</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">d. Other General Opposition</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. Provisions of the Rule</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Limitation on Asylum Eligibility</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">a. Proclamation Exceptions—Section 3(b) of Proclamation</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">i. Legal Concerns Related to CBP One and the Lack of Exceptions</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">ii. Wait Times for CBP One Appointments</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">iii. Availability of and Access to CBP One Appointments and Concerns about Discrimination</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">b. Regulatory Exception—Exceptionally Compelling Circumstances</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">c. Implementation by CBP Officers</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">d. Application of the Limitation on Asylum Eligibility in Proceedings Before EOIR</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">e. Family Unity Provisions</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Manifestation of Fear Standard</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">a. Legality Concerns</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">b. Concerns About the Efficiency and Complexity of the Manifestation Standard</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">c. Implementation Guidance and Accuracy of Manifestation To Identify Fear of Return</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2"> d. Trauma Impacting Manifestation and Vulnerable Populations </FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">e. A Manifestation of Fear Does Not Sufficiently Align With a Valid Claim for Asylum</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">f. Noncitizens May Not Understand Their Legal Right to Seek Asylum</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">3. “Reasonable Probability” Screening Standard for Statutory Withholding of Removal and CAT Protection</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">4. Other Comments on the Regulatory Provisions</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">a. Application to Mexican Nationals</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">b. Adequacy of Statutory Withholding of Removal and CAT Protection</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">c. Requests for Reconsideration</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D. Other Issues Relating to the Rule</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Scope of the Rule and Implementation</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">a. Concerns That the Encounter Thresholds Are Too Low or Arbitrary</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">b. Concerns Regarding Exceptions From the Encounter Thresholds</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">c. Other Concerns About the Encounter Thresholds</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Other Comments on Issues Relating to the Rule</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">E. Statutory and Regulatory Requirements</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Administrative Procedure Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">a. Foreign Affairs Exception</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">b. Good Cause Exception</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">c. Length and Sufficiency of Comment Period</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Impacts, Costs, and Benefits (E.O. 12866 and E.O. 13563)</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">3. Alternatives</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">a. Address Root Causes of Migration</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">b. Prioritize Funding and Other Resources</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">c. Further Exp ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Preview showing 10k of 1075k characters. Full document text is stored and available for version comparison. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━