The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has expanded the authority of its officers to combat fraud in asylum applications.
According to Oxu.Az, a DHS statement said law enforcement officers can now prosecute lawyers who knowingly provide false information in support of asylum seekers. The department has also increased capacity for the extrajudicial prosecution of participants in fraud schemes.
The statement emphasizes that the agency aims to make asylum in the U.S. an exceptional, not routine, measure.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly advocated for stricter immigration policies. Shortly after his inauguration, he declared a state of emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border. The White House has announced plans for the largest deportation operation of illegal immigrants in U.S. history.
