Mexico City.- The restrictions on the exercise of the human right to request asylum are unacceptable and contrary to the international obligations of states, indicated the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
“The new rule adopted by the US government that restricts access for asylum seekers who arrive irregularly, after transiting through another country, is incompatible with the principles of international refugee law,” they warned in a joint statement.
They stressed that any agreement between states on returns (including asylum seekers to a third country, such as the one between the United States and Mexico) must guarantee that the principle of non-refoulement is respected.
Said principle (known as non-refoulement) they explained, establishes the prohibition of the forced repatriation of people to situations in which their lives and safety are at risk.
“Returns should only be carried out following due process and with the necessary safeguards, in accordance with the obligations of states under international law,” they noted.
Meanwhile, they called attention to the fact that, although the number of people from the region heading to the southern border of the US has increased in recent years, the majority continue to be received by countries of Latin America itself.
“The challenges facing the Americas region require visionary, innovative, and principled cooperation among all stakeholders,” they noted.
