The Biden administration will allow families separated on the southern border by the Trump administration to reunite and remain in the US, the White House announced Monday.
“We hope to reunite the families, here or in their country of origin. We hope to be able to give them the election. And if they do, in fact, try to reunite here in the United States, we will explore legal ways to stay in the United States and provide for the family’s needs, “Homeland Security Secretary Alexander Mayorkas
Alejandro MayorkasCollins urges Biden to rethink command over US-Canada border borders Politics, not racism or sexism, declare opposition to nominees for Biden’s cabinet Republicans in Florida push Biden to push Trump’s command in Venezuela to perform MORE said at a press conference.
“We act as restorative as possible.”
Among the former President Trump
Donald Trump Sacha Baron Cohen exclaims ‘danger of lies, hatred and conspiracy’ in Golden Globes speech Sorkin uses Abbie Hoffman quote to condemn Capitol violence: Democracy is ‘something you do’ Ex-Trump assistant Pierson plans the congress MOREAccording to the family separation policy, approximately 2,800 families were separated in 2018. While some were reunited, another 550 children were not reconnected with their parents under the previous administration.
Mayorkas, head of the family reunification task force founded by President Biden
Joe BidenBiden Supports Organizing Union Efforts Senate Democrats Ignore ‘Plan B’ On Minimum Wage Hike Kavanaugh Appalles Conservatives By Dodging Pro-Trump Election Procedures MORE, his administration said so far have reunited 105 families.
Immigration advocates have argued that the Biden administration should not only reunite families, but also try to compensate for those who suffered damage under the Trump administration.
“We welcome Minister Mayorkas’ commitment to end the torture and abuse of families separated from their children during immigration proceedings. Of course the devil is in the details and Secretary Mayorkas must drop all reservations and qualifications surrounding his announcement and comply with whatever it takes to correct the wrong, ” said Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, in a statement. statement, in which he made a comparison. Trump’s “zero-tolerance policy” that resulted in the separation from Japanese-American internment during World War II.
However, Mayorkas was slim about the details of which legal path would be offered to families choosing to stay in the US, leaving it unclear what kind of work permits could be issued.
“We should have a legislative solution to allow families affected by zero tolerance to stay in the US. They should be offered a path to permanent citizenship, given what they’ve been through,” said Jorge Loweree, policy director of the American Immigration Council .
Such an aspect could be tucked into Biden’s immigration law currently running through Congress, although the bill has already provoked significant backlash from Republicans.
The White House was also not clear whether the policy would be offered to those already reunited with their children.
“Reunification should take place as soon as possible, but we should also consider addressing the significant damage the government has imposed on all families previously affected by the policy,” Loweree said, adding that “there is a long-term and permanent damage that many children and parents will experience, possibly for life ”as a result of divorce.
Mayorkas also announced on Monday that Michelle Brané, who recently led the Migrant Rights and Justice program at the Women’s Refugee Commission, would serve as executive director of the task force.
—Updated at 1:30 PM