ANALYSIS/OPINION:

The long-standing and salient principle of international law on asylum is that those seeking it beyond their own border are supposed to make their claim for sanctuary in the “first safe country” they come to. Even if we ignore any intervening Central American countries, the caravan of 1,000 illegals may have traversed on their way to the United States, it’s clear the foreign travelers arrived at a viable asylum country when they reached Mexico. And some did claim asylum there.

But why not all of them? After all, if aliens claiming grievances so urgent and severe they had to flee their home countries are fortunate enough to find safety, food, shelter and even their own language in another country that’s on the international community’s safe list, international asylum law has done its due.

That’s why those who nevertheless chose to abandon the sanctuary country at hand to trek hundreds of miles farther to another country, the United States, many with small children in tow, should have a tough sell convincing U.S. immigration examiners they are bona fide asylees and not just illegal aliens forum-shopping for a better economic life than their home countries or Mexico provide.

JOHN A. LANZETTA

Miami

Sign up for Daily Opinion Newsletter Manage Newsletters

Copyright © 2020 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.