President Biden is signaling not only a desire to reverse Trump’s immigration policies with his early executive actions, but also a desire to go beyond the Obama administration.
A trio of orders signed by Biden last week are trying to remedy the Trump administration’s family separation policy by setting up a working group dedicated to reuniting 545 children with their parents.
Biden also ordered a revision of his predecessor’s public tax rule, which limited immigration opportunities for those who might need to rely on government assistance, such as food stamps or other social programs.
But Biden’s call for a comprehensive review of asylum and the naturalization process – along with a commitment to try to address the root causes of Latin American migration – was what excited immigration advocates.
“We are not just reversing Trump’s policies, which at best were superficial and ideological, but going beyond the Obama administration,” said Thomas Saenz, president of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund.
“It certainly presents a much more sophisticated view of refugee and asylum issues for the Western Hemisphere than we have seen,” he added.
The new Biden administrative policy places special emphasis on the Northern Triangle, the nickname given to neighboring Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, where in recent years migration patterns have rivaled those of Mexican nationals.
The “root causes” strategy called for by Biden’s order would help strengthen democracy, combat gang violence and stimulate the economy.
“This is a much more sophisticated view of seeing the problem from deep causes and a recognition that the root causes in the Northern Triangle are caused in part by the United States,” Saenz said.
Many immigration experts consider the seismic shift from aid to aid to be a more realistic long-term approach.
“We are now in a situation where we can no longer drive with heavy hand application and our approach needs to change and I believe that what we have seen from the administration is absolutely an acknowledgment of this,” said Jorge Loweree. political director at the American Immigration Council.
Others argue that the policy, which differs from the Obama years, will prove more cost-effective than recent border security measures, in addition to doubling as foreign aid.
“Starting a Marshall Plan for Central America is much cheaper than building a wall or hiring immigration officers. It can provide jobs and security in Central America, which could turn off the tap for refugees coming to the United States instead of building more bathtubs, “said Domingo Garcia, president of the League of United Latin American Citizens.
Lawyers say Biden is not just proposing policies that go beyond the Obama years; it also sets a new tone on immigration and sets higher goals.
One of its orders calls for strengthening the inclusion of newly naturalized citizens, an endorsement for the potential tax cuts and testing requirements associated with becoming a citizen.
There are also signs that the Biden administration could move away from the Obama years by adopting policies to facilitate coming to the United States, such as guiding the government to consider giving those fleeing domestic violence or gangs the opportunity to apply for asylum. The current law only protects those fleeing discrimination based on race, religion, political views and other protected classes.
Biden also called for the revival of another program the Trump administration aimed at eliminating, one that allows minors in the Northern Triangle to apply for refugee status.
But Biden’s orders, along with a comprehensive immigration bill that Biden sent to Congress that would provide an eight-year path to citizenship for about 11 million immigrants, are causing backlash among Republicans in Congress.
“Through these actions, President Biden has sent the message to the world loud and clear that our immigration laws can be violated without consequences,” he said, a member of the House Oversight and Reform Committee. James ComerJames (Jamie) R. ComerBiden, immigration policy, beyond the reversal of Trump House Oversight asks to inform the secret service about the threats of extremist violence as a result of the riots in the Chapter. Calls increase for a 9/11 group to investigate the attack in Chapter MORE (R-Ky.).
“These radical, far-left immigration policies will continue to allow the humanitarian crisis at the border, endanger more children as they are dangerously brought to the southern border, encourage illegal immigration and undermine the rule of law. He added. .
It is. Josh Hawley
Joshua (Josh) David Hawley Conservative questionable Cheney’s re-election prospects after indictment Biden’s immigration policy looks beyond Trump’s reversal Daines tries to block Haaland’s confirmation inland MUCH (R-Mo.), Which slowed the Senate confirmation of the Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas
Alejandro MayorkasBiden, an immigration politician, shows beyond Trump’s reversal Daines is trying to block Haaland’s confirmation to the federal internal cyber agency, reevaluating its role in combating election misinformation MORE naming Biden’s candidate, seizing his nomination he had not “adequately explained how he would apply federal law and secure the southern border.”
Garcia said Democrats will now be tested to show that their policies are sensitive.
“One of the attacks by Republicans on Democrats is that Democrats are for open borders. We have to show that we are not for open borders, but for legal immigration in an orderly way “, he said.
Immigration advocates say Biden’s plans are a direct response to what they see as Trump’s failures.
“The last four years of asylum policies have been based on the premise that if we find a way to make this as difficult as possible and increase the hardships that people have to endure to reach us, people will give up. or they will never take place first. We have gone so far as to take the children from their parents to the southern border, but we see that people keep coming, ”said Loweree.
“He talks about the conditions that people face in their home country. “People would not face such a risk if staying in their home country was not such a dangerous proposition,” Loweree added.
Here, lawyers see the chance for Biden to treat the border differently from Trump.
Biden’s order calls for the expansion of shelter networks “to meet the immediate needs of people who have fled their homes to seek protection elsewhere in the region.”
From Saenz’s perspective, the US bears a certain responsibility for contributing to a militarized northern triangle that is now creating refugees.
“We have contributed a lot to these conditions and not only with our drug policy, but also with our immigration policy,” he said.
“Almost everyone who leaves wants to get out of that situation because they are so dangerous, and this is as true in an atmosphere of war as Syria as in the violent circumstances of the Northern Triangle,” he added.
Loweree argued that Biden should go further than reuniting families who were separated during the Trump years.
“We also need to think considerably about some kind of compensation fund to provide compensation for the damage faced by the previous administration,” he said.
However, Loweree said the Biden administration has already made great strides in a short time.
“It simply came to our notice then. They have been in office for two weeks and have done an extraordinary job in the field of immigration. It is an indication of a new era, “he said.