The United States is set to propose significant changes to the global asylum system at the United Nations General Assembly in New York this month. According to reports by Reuters and Bloomberg, the US plans to advocate for a framework that requires asylum seekers to claim protection in the first country they enter, rather than choosing their preferred destination.

The current global asylum system has been criticized by the US State Department, which claims it has been “abused by bad actors and economic migrants” and has contributed to the global migration crisis. The department argues that these abuses have disrupted entire regions, enriched criminal cartels, and violated the sovereignty of nations.

Under the proposed framework, asylum seekers would be required to claim protection in the first country they reach, rather than a destination of their choosing. A State Department spokesperson emphasized that every nation has the right to control its borders and that asylum should be temporary. The spokesperson added that host governments should decide when conditions in a person’s home country are safe enough for return.

This proposed shift in global migration policies could mark a significant departure from the framework that has been in place since the mid-20th century. However, it is worth noting that the US has no authority to unilaterally change the global framework.

The Trump administration has made curbing migration a key aspect of its domestic and foreign policy. The administration has tightened domestic asylum rules, declared a national emergency on the southern US border, increased deportations, and pressured Latin American governments to stop migrant flows. The US has also warned against migrant “caravans” from Latin America, portraying them as a threat.

Rights groups have argued that these groups consist mainly of poor people fleeing gang violence who travel together for protection. The proposed changes to the global asylum system are likely to be met with significant debate and discussion at the UN General Assembly.

The US plans to hold an event on the sidelines of the assembly, which will call for “commonsense and necessary reforms” to the asylum system. The event is expected to provide a platform for the US to push for its proposed framework and to discuss the issue of global migration with other nations. The outcome of these discussions will be closely watched, as they have the potential to shape the future of global migration policies.