Biden administration tightens asylum rules at border less than 40 days from Election Day

The Biden administration on Monday tightened its asylum rules at the southern border less than 40 days from the November election as voters identify immigration and the border as top issues of concern.

A Scripps News/Ipsos poll from earlier this month found a majority of "Americans and Arizona residents believe securing the U.S.-Mexico border is the top immigration priority for the country."

In several surveys, voters have said they trust former President Trump, the GOP nominee, over Vice President Harris, the Democratic nominee on border security.

The updated rules restrict asylum approvals for qualified migrants if U.S. border officials deem the southern border as overwhelmed, according to the Associated Press.

Under the new rules, migrant encounters at the southern border must be less than 1,500 for close to one month before the restrictions can be suspended. 

The AP reported that the Biden administration is counting migrants who are minors toward the 1,500 total, as opposed to the previous set of rules that only applied to minors from Mexico.