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Circumvention of Lawful Pathways Final Rule

border

Under the final rule, in effect on May 11, 2023, noncitizens who cross the southwest land border or adjacent coastal borders without authorization after traveling through another country, and without having (1) availed themselves of an existing lawful process, (2) presented at a port of entry at a pre-scheduled time using the CBP One app, or (3) been denied asylum in a third country through which they traveled, are presumed ineligible for asylum unless they meet certain limited exceptions.

Exceptions

Noncitizens who cross the southwest land border or adjacent coastal borders of the United States without authorization after traveling through a third country will be presumed ineligible for asylum unless they, or a member of their family with whom they are traveling, meet one of three exceptions:

  • They were provided authorization to travel to the United States pursuant to a DHS-approved parole process;
  • They used the CBP One app to schedule a time and place to present at a port of entry, or they presented at a port of entry without using the CBP One app and established that it was not possible to access or use the CBP One app due to a language barrier, illiteracy, significant technical failure, or other ongoing and serious obstacle; or
  • They applied for and were denied asylum in a third country en route to the United States.

Unaccompanied children are exempted from the rebuttable presumption.

Rebutting the Presumption

Noncitizens can rebut the presumption of asylum ineligibility in exceptionally compelling circumstances, including if they demonstrate that, at the time of their unauthorized entry, they or a member of their family with whom they were traveling:

  • Faced an acute medical emergency;
  • Faced an extreme and imminent threat to their life or safety, such as an imminent threat of rape, kidnapping, torture, or murder; or
  • Were a victim of a severe form of trafficking.