Trump administration proposes rule denying asylum to migrants with US marijuana convictions

The Trump administration is proposing a new rule that would deny asylum to migrants who have been convicted of misdemeanors like possession of marijuana.

The Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security propose in a draft of the rule, which was published Thursday in the Federal Register, to expand regulations governing asylum eligibility and disqualify those convicted “for possession or trafficking of a controlled substance” from U.S. protections.

“Specifically, the departments propose that a conviction for possession or trafficking of a controlled substance or controlled-substance paraphernalia, other than a single offense involving possession for one’s own use of 30 grams or less of marijuana, should disqualify an alien from eligibility for asylum,” the notice said.

“Both possessors and traffickers of controlled substances pose a direct threat to the public health and safety interests of the United States, and they should not be entitled to the benefit of asylum,” according to the description of the proposed rule change.

Convictions related to domestic violence could also make migrants ineligible, according to the notice.

The administration said it will have a 30-day comment period on the proposal before the law will likely take effect.

The White House did not immediately respond to request for comment. [Read more at CNBC]