A New Approach to Addressing the Border Crisis: Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s Proposed Solution

The border crisis has been a topic of intense debate and concern for many Americans, with large numbers of migrants arriving at the southern border seeking asylum. The situation has led to overburdened border facilities, long wait times, and a backlog of cases in the immigration system. In an effort to address this crisis, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, one of the chief negotiators of the deal, has proposed a new approach to border policy and asylum system changes.

During an interview on CBS News’ “Face the Nation” on February 4, 2024, Sen. Sinema discussed the details of her proposed solution. According to her, the current system, which involves detaining migrants and then releasing them with a notice to appear in court at a later date, will be ended. Instead, individuals who approach the border and claim asylum will go through one of two situations.

First, those who meet the standard for asylum will be detained for a short period of time and undergo an interview to determine their eligibility. For those who do not meet the standard, they will be swiftly returned to their home country. Families, however, will be supervised over the course of three months and undergo an interview with a higher standard, requiring them to show more proof early on about their qualifications for asylum.

Sen. Sinema explained that this new approach will end the practice of catch and release, ensuring that individuals who do not qualify for asylum are quickly returned to their home countries, while those who do qualify will be on a rapid path to starting a new life in America. For economic migrants, who are not permitted to enter the country for the purpose of seeking a better life, they will be turned away and sent back to their home countries.

There have been concerns from Democrats about the potential mistreatment of individuals turned away and sent back to Mexico. Sen. Sinema believes that by quickly implementing this system, individuals who come for economic reasons will learn that this is not a viable path to enter the country, and will not take the dangerous journey to the border.

Sen. Sinema has also criticized the Biden administration for not implementing existing laws and bearing some responsibility for the crisis. Her proposed solution requires the administration to implement these tools and mandates the enforcement of each provision of the law. The administration will be required to shut down the border when the number of approaches reaches 5,000 a day, allowing enough time to process asylum claims and turn away those who do not qualify.

Sen. Sinema’s proposed solution has not been without controversy. Some have criticized the plan for being too harsh and for not providing enough resources for processing asylum claims. Others have praised the plan for its pragmatism and its focus on ending the practice of catch and release.

Regardless of the debate, Sen. Sinema’s proposed solution represents a new approach to addressing the border crisis and offers a potential path forward for both Democrats and Republicans in Congress. As the Senate begins to take action on a national security package that includes this solution, it will be interesting to see how it is received and whether it can garner the necessary support to become law.

In conclusion, the border crisis has been a contentious issue for many years, with large numbers of migrants arriving at the southern border seeking asylum. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s proposed solution, which includes ending the practice of catch and release and requiring the administration to implement existing laws, offers a new approach to addressing this crisis and represents a potential path forward for both Democrats and Republicans in Congress. Only time will tell if this solution will be successful in addressing the border crisis and bringing about much-needed change to the immigration system.