Washington (CNN) Sen. Lindsey Graham introduced legislation Wednesday that would, in part, change the current asylum process in an attempt to stem the flow of migrants arriving at the southern border.

The legislation would change the system in three substantial ways: It would require migrants seeking asylum to apply at a consulate or embassy in their home country or in Mexico, instead of at the southern border; it would increase the amount of time that migrant children could stay in custody from 20 days to 100 days; and make it easier for officials to deport unaccompanied minors to Central America.

The measure also calls for 500 new immigration judges to chip away at the massive immigration court backlog.

Taken together, Graham, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said in a press conference, "then, the incentives created by our laws will cease to exist." He added: "This humanitarian disaster will begin to repair itself."

The Trump administration has urged Congress to revisit the nation's immigration laws, arguing that loopholes have encouraged an increasing number of migrants to cross the border. But Democrats have already pushed back on some of the proposals floated by the administration, including aspects of the Graham bill, like holding migrant children in custody for a longer period of time.

Read More