Asylum Metering Policy

Topic

The asylum metering policy is a U.S. border management practice that limits the number of noncitizens allowed to request asylum at ports of entry along the U.S.–Mexico border each day. Under this policy, border officials turn back asylum seekers, forcing them to wait in Mexico on unofficial waitlists until slots become available for processing. The practice has been the subject of significant legal challenges, including federal court rulings and Supreme Court reviews questioning its legality under U.S. and international refugee law.