U.S. toughens rules for asylum seekers

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Dec 3, 2007

WASHINGTON (AP) -- More people seeking asylum in the U.S. could be detained and then jailed longer under a new Homeland Security Department policy for people wanting safe harbor.

The new policy applies to people placed in so-called expedited removal, a broad post-Sept. 11 category for immigrants who arrive in the U.S. seeking asylum or whose immigration paperwork is incorrect, invalid or nonexistent.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a division of the Homeland Security Department, said it issued the new policy Nov. 6 to make detention rules for asylum seekers more consistent and clear.