Mike Lee and Chuck Grassley

            This week I have two VIPs. Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) are seeking a clear solution to “caravans” coming from Central and South America to the southern United States border. The two Senators sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo with an urgent plea for them to make an agreement with Mexico. They are urging the United States to enter into a “safe third country agreement” with Mexico, which would require migrants to seek asylum in Mexico and not the United States. In an interview with Glenn Beck, Lee explained the plan and how it would work.

Mexico would require people who enter Mexico, let’s say from Honduras or El Salvador or any of these other countries in Central America… with the intent of claiming asylum, they would have to claim asylum in Mexico rather than in the United States. Now, this would be similar to an agreement we already have in place with Canada and a rule imposed by the E.U. for refugees arriving in E.U. countries from Syria.

In other words, when people are fleeing a country that is dangerous to them … they ought to apply for asylum in the first country [they] reach.

            This agreement makes total sense to me. In fact, I am surprised that it has not been made already – even years ago. Why should so-called refugees be able to travel through some countries to reach a country of their choice? If they are truly fleeing violence, they should be happy to be in a safe country, any safe country. These Senators should be praised for bringing the lack of such an agreement to the forefront. Hopefully, they will be able to get such an agreement signed before too many other such “caravans” arrive at our border!