"The core of this is recognising El Salvador's development of their own asylum system and committing to help them build that capacity," Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan told reporters in Washington after signing documents with El Salvador's minister of foreign affairs, Alexandra Hill.
"Individuals crossing through El Salvador should be able to seek protections" in the Central American country even if they were intending to apply for asylum in the United States, he added.
Neither official said when the arrangement would take effect or provide details on how it would be administered. It was unclear how such a deal would work, given that most migrants from other countries take routes that avoid crossing the small, poverty-stricken El Salvador.
"Individuals crossing through El Salvador should be able to seek protections" in the Central American country even if they were intending to apply for asylum in the United States, he added.
Neither official said when the arrangement would take effect or provide details on how it would be administered. It was unclear how such a deal would work, given that most migrants from other countries take routes that avoid crossing the small, poverty-stricken El Salvador.
