WASHINGTON- Immigrants seeking asylum in the United States from Mexico must now also first seek protection from a so-called third party country, the Trump administration said on Monday.

The Departments of Homeland Security and Justice, in a joint statement, said the new interim rule would set a "new bar" for immigrants trying to enter across the southern U.S. border "by placing further restrictions or limitations on eligibility for aliens who seek asylum in the United States."

(Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Mohammad Zargham) ((202-898-8300; Reuters Messaging: susan.heavey.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))