Biden swiftly begins sweeping away Trump's immigration barriers

webfact · January 20, 2021

Biden swiftly begins sweeping away Trump's immigration barriers

By Ted Hesson, Mica Rosenberg, Mimi Dwyer and Kristina Cooke

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President-elect Joe Biden introduces key members of his White House science team at his transition headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., January 16, 2021 REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden signed half a dozen executive orders on Wednesday to reverse several hardline immigration policies put in place by former President Donald Trump, although migration experts warn that it will take months or longer to unravel many of the restrictions imposed in the past four years.

In a sharp departure from his Republican predecessor, Biden, a Democrat, also sent an immigration bill to lawmakers that proposes opening a path to citizenship for millions of immigrants living in the United States unlawfully.

The executive actions signed at a ceremony at the White House included immediately lifting a travel ban on 13 mostly Muslim-majority and African countries, halting construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall and reversing a Trump order preventing migrants who are in the United States illegally from being counted for congressional districts.

Biden also signed a memorandum directing the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. attorney general to preserve the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which protects migrants who came to the country as children from deportation, and reversed Trump's executive order calling for stricter interior immigration enforcement.

Taken together, the actions show Biden is beginning his presidency with a sharp focus on immigration, just as Trump kept the issue at the center of his policy agenda until the last days of his administration. In one of his rare post-election public appearances, Trump visited a section of the U.S.-Mexico border wall earlier this month.

Biden's decision to immediately roll back Trump's travel ban won praise from business groups and migrant advocates. Myron Brilliant, an executive at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said the ban was "was not aligned with American values" and its reversal would help "restore our credibility on the global stage."

Since December 2017, after a revised version of the ban was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, some 40,000 people have been barred from entering the United States under the ban, according to State Department data.

MORE ACTIONS COMING

Biden plans additional executive actions on Jan. 29 to restore U.S. asylum protections, strengthen refugee processing and set up a task force to reunify families still separated by Trump's border policies, according to a memo shared with lawmakers and obtained by Reuters.

At the same time, the Biden administration will also review barriers to legal immigration put in place by Trump over the past four years, including a regulation that made it harder for poorer immigrants to get permanent residency, the memo said.

The new president is also expected on Jan. 29 to end a Trump program called the Migrant Protection Protocols, according to a person familiar with the plan. The program has left tens of thousands of asylum seekers waiting in Mexico for U.S. court hearings, with many stuck for months in squalid tent camps near the southwest border.

BILL NO SLAM DUNK

Lifting the travel and implementing executive orders may be an easier task than getting Congress to pass Biden's ambitious immigration bill. It lays out an eight-year road map to citizenship for many of the estimated 11 million immigrants living in the country unlawfully, according to a fact sheet distributed to reporters by incoming White House officials on Tuesday.

Eligible immigrants who were in the country as of Jan. 1 and meet certain requirements would be given a temporary status for five years before being granted green cards. They could then apply for citizenship after three more years, officials said.

The wait time for legalization would be shorter for DACA recipients and immigrants living in the United States with Temporary Protected Status (TPS), both programs Trump tried to end. It would also be expedited for some farmworkers.

While Democrats effectively hold a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Senate will be divided 50-50 with Vice President Kamala Harris as the tie-breaking vote. A lack of bipartisan support has torpedoed past efforts to overhaul the immigration system.

On Tuesday, Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida called the bill a "non-starter" that included "a blanket amnesty for people who are here unlawfully."

Advocates acknowledge privately that the ambitious bill would probably serve more as a statement of goals to set the stage for a series of smaller, single issue bills that might attract more bipartisan support.

In the meantime, Biden faces a more immediate issue. Migrant caravans have been on the move in Central America, with some aiming to arrive at the southwest border after Biden's inauguration. On Monday, baton-wielding Guatemalan soldiers clashed with migrants, removing a large part of a caravan that included women and children.

Biden's actions on his first day in office do not include repealing a coronavirus pandemic-era order issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control that allows border officials to expel almost all border crossers, according to fact sheets released by his team.

More than 380,000 people have been quickly sent to their home countries or pushed back to Mexico under the order, known as "Title 42" for the statute it falls under, since March 2020, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data.

Incoming national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on a call with reporters on Tuesday that it would be "unwise" for migrants to come to the border now because of limited capacity to process asylum claims.

"The situation at the border is one we intend to change, but it is going to take considerable time," he said.

(Reporting by Mimi Dwyer in Los Angeles, Mica Rosenberg in New York and Ted Hesson in Washington and Kristina Cooke in Los Angeles; Additional reporting by Dan Trotta; Editing by Ross Colvin, Aurora Ellis and Paul Simao)

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Thailand · January 20, 2021

Has somebody gone?

Poet · January 20, 2021

It is good that the U.S. is finally taking concrete steps to remove the scourge of white privilege for once and for all. We should be airlifting these thousands of Hondurans directly to the U.S. city of their choice, not have them walk 1,600 miles and force them to deal with the anti-migrant racism of the Guetamalans and Mexicans.

35 minutes ago, webfact said:

Biden's ambitious immigration bill. It lays out an eight-year road map to citizenship for many of the estimated 11 million immigrants living in the country unlawfully

Giving citizenship to 11 million immigrants who entered unlawfully will have the side-effect of almost entirely eliminating illegal immigrants within the US, something Trump never came close to achieving.

Tug · January 21, 2021

If properly vetted then great welcome aboard

Poet · January 21, 2021

1 minute ago, Tug said:

If properly vetted then great welcome aboard

Entering unlawfully means they went through no vetting process. It is unlikely those already in the US will be vetted now, although one would hope that those incarcerated for serious crimes will not be automatically granted citizenship.

The actual figure is higher than 11m. The Office of Immigration Statistics at DHS estimated 12m at the end of 2014. More may have entered during the following six years.

impulse · January 21, 2021

27 minutes ago, Poet said:

Giving citizenship to 11 million immigrants who entered unlawfully will have the side-effect of almost entirely eliminating illegal immigrants within the US, something Trump never came close to achieving.

Nope. We'll still have 11 million illegals. Probably even more. They'll just be new ones. Encouraged by yet another amnesty program that rewards the ones that crossed over illegally last year.

Chomper Higgot · January 21, 2021

Great to see a real President hit the ground running.

He’s got a whole lot of mess left by Trump to clear.

Mama Noodle · January 21, 2021

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Lifting the travel and implementing executive orders may be an easier task than getting Congress to pass Biden's ambitious immigration bill. It lays out an eight-year road map to citizenship for many of the estimated 11 million immigrants living in the country unlawfully, according to a fact sheet distributed to reporters by incoming White House officials on Tuesday.

Eligible immigrants who were in the country as of Jan. 1 and meet certain requirements would be given a temporary status for five years before being granted green cards. They could then apply for citizenship after three more years, officials said.

Why even have a country at all if a major political party is hell bent on importing a huge voting base from south of the border? The only reason Dems want this is because they know it'll turn Texas and Florida blue. And the illegal alien figure is a heck of alot bigger than 11 million.

But yet again, this is typical Democrat politics. Campaign on the pandemic and economy, the working man and aid, jobs, Trump bad, and what's one of the first things they do on day one?

Immigration.

Mama Noodle · January 21, 2021

19 minutes ago, impulse said:

Nope. We'll still have 11 million illegals. Probably even more. They'll just be new ones. Encouraged by yet another amnesty program that rewards the ones that crossed over illegally last year.

We went through this with Raegan already, and here we are again.

ezzra · January 21, 2021

As the old saying goes: New broom sweeps clean... let us see no how clean and for how long?...

olfu · January 21, 2021

I dont know but these ideas smells like big scam.

Like anybody who illegally cross border yesterday suddenly ready for being be a citizen without any vetting.

EVENKEEL · January 21, 2021

illegal alien definition

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/illegal-alien

So can we please stop calling those who enter the USA illegally as immigrants.

LennyW · January 21, 2021

And so the tragic demise of America begins.....

Anthony Bartell · January 21, 2021

The best possible news. American xenophobia no longer has official sanction.

mr mr · January 21, 2021

changing and updating the countries immigration policies is great.

if you took a sample of 11 million people from any region in the world you are going to find good and bad people within that group. how does one wade through this mess in rewarding those with legit claims vs those trying to game the system. not an easy job at all.

fun fact though. the USA takes in more immigrants than any other country in the world.

welovesundaysatspace · January 21, 2021

1 hour ago, impulse said:

Nope. We'll still have 11 million illegals. Probably even more.

Around 330 million to be correct.

Virt · January 21, 2021

Not easy to navigate through the migrant problem and it's a worldwide problem and here in Europe it's been a bumpy ride and still is.

If we don't help them we're cruel and heartless.

If we help them, the flood will never stop, because that will encourage others in the same situation, and I don't blaim people to seek a better future.

It's a problem that will only escalate in the future unless politics change worldwide, but most importantly.

The migrants has to come to terms with living in a new country/culture and start assimilating.

I'm not saying they should give up their culture or religions and turn into copies of the locals, but they shouldn't try and make their new country into the one they left....

Poet · January 21, 2021

1 hour ago, Mama Noodle said:

Why even have a country at all if a major political party is hell bent on importing a huge voting base from south of the border? The only reason Dems want this is because they know it'll turn Texas and Florida blue.

Well, the Democrats won, they have a mandate, and every TV show, newspaper, and major Internet platform has a strongly pro-migration position now.

Without the bad luck of the pandemic happening when it did, Trump would have been re-elected. Even with the pandemic, if he had toned down the tweeting and paranoia a bit he probably would have won. He blew it.

The problem the Democrats now have is that President Biden is pretty weak. He was largely elected on the grounds of not being Trump. To highlight that, he adopted rhetoric and positions that, realistically, he cannot deliver upon. Democrats outside the coastal bubbles are already nervous about where all this is going. The idea of open borders is beautiful but the reality, the impact on existing communities, may be more complicated. Not all of the new arrivals will be doctors.

Many of the roughly 20m illegal immigrants already in the US are integrated, many pay taxes, many industries would not be profitable if they had to pay the wages that citizens would expect. In itself, making them citizens would regularize the situation for them and their families. That would be a good thing.

The problem, however, is that just as with the amnesty in the 80's under Reagan, it will send a strong signal encouraging more illegal migration. Typically, when existing communities have bad experiences, it is with relatively recent illegal migrants. Anger over the appalling crimes commited by a small minority of illegal migrants created much of the momentum that propelled Trump into office.

So, open borders is a big gamble for the Democrats. If millions more illegals enter the US, integrate well, and eventually become citizens, 95% of them will vote Democrat and, yes, that will turn the swing states blue for good. This would give the Democrats permanent control of the whitehouse and both houses.

In the shortterm, however, if the integration of the new illegals goes badly, that could create another wave of anger and backlash that will swing power back to the Republicans and, probably, a less charismatic but more competent President than Trump.

Trump never really cared all that much about migration or, indeed, his wall. He simply recognized a great catchphrase when he heard it, one that played up to his reputation as a doer, a builder: "We're going to build a wall ... and Mexico will pay for it!".

He had both houses for the first two years of his adminstration and did nothing apart from that flight ban publicity stunt. Obama deported twice as many illegals during his first term and, indeed, instituted the family separation policies and had those cages built. Trump, on the other hand, essentially wanted everyone to think he was a great guy. The best!

If the Republicans win in 2024 or 2028, however, it will either be the most actively anti-illegal migration government in American history or it will be the last ever Republican administration. The demographics are clear.

Edited January 21, 2021 by Poet

EVENKEEL · January 21, 2021

33 minutes ago, welovesundaysatspace said:

Around 330 million to be correct.

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/illegal-alien

Eric Loh · January 21, 2021

Rick nations past and present pillaged the poorer nations, corrupt their governments and brought wars onto them and now disparage the huddled masses who are only seeking a better life. What a disgusting paradox. Immigration is just a natural and logical reaction of immigrants who take desperate life risking efforts to seek a better life brought about by conflicts, economy or climate. Wealthy countries and corporations exploited the world poorer nations creating the conditions that cause people to flee for their lives and livelihood.

International immigrants just made up 3.3% of the world population and study project that in USA alone, immigrants and their descendants will account for 88% of the population growth between 2015 to 2065. This is not a grand master plan by the Dems but just a natural progression. Trump himself son of immigrants like many conservative politicians demonize immigrants and seek scapegoats for their own selfish political gains.

A simple progressive solution to the immigrant 'issue' is to stop thinking of them as a problem. Immigrants from deprived backgrounds then to work harder, try hard to integrate, bring special skills, pay their taxes and made serious attempts to integrate with the communities. There is really no serious arguments that demonstrate a long term damage to countries that accept immigrants. Canada welcome immigrants which enrich their economy and incidence of hate crimes decline. Biden is on the right track on this immigration issue by not demonizing them and seeking to work with the countries where these immigrants originate.

mr mr · January 21, 2021

11 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

Wealthy countries and corporations exploited the world poorer nations creating the conditions that cause people to flee for their lives and livelihood.

so the entire timeline of human history basically.

Rimmer · January 21, 2021

Off topic post and reply removed

Chomper Higgot · January 21, 2021

2 hours ago, Poet said:

Well, the Democrats won, they have a mandate, and every TV show, newspaper, and major Internet platform has a strongly pro-migration position now.

Without the bad luck of the pandemic happening when it did, Trump would have been re-elected. Even with the pandemic, if he had toned down the tweeting and paranoia a bit he probably would have won. He blew it.

The problem the Democrats now have is that President Biden is pretty weak. He was largely elected on the grounds of not being Trump. To highlight that, he adopted rhetoric and positions that, realistically, he cannot deliver upon. Democrats outside the coastal bubbles are already nervous about where all this is going. The idea of open borders is beautiful but the reality, the impact on existing communities, may be more complicated. Not all of the new arrivals will be doctors.

Many of the roughly 20m illegal immigrants already in the US are integrated, many pay taxes, many industries would not be profitable if they had to pay the wages that citizens would expect. In itself, making them citizens would regularize the situation for them and their families. That would be a good thing.

The problem, however, is that just as with the amnesty in the 80's under Reagan, it will send a strong signal encouraging more illegal migration. Typically, when existing communities have bad experiences, it is with relatively recent illegal migrants. Anger over the appalling crimes commited by a small minority of illegal migrants created much of the momentum that propelled Trump into office.

So, open borders is a big gamble for the Democrats. If millions more illegals enter the US, integrate well, and eventually become citizens, 95% of them will vote Democrat and, yes, that will turn the swing states blue for good. This would give the Democrats permanent control of the whitehouse and both houses.

In the shortterm, however, if the integration of the new illegals goes badly, that could create another wave of anger and backlash that will swing power back to the Republicans and, probably, a less charismatic but more competent President than Trump.

Trump never really cared all that much about migration or, indeed, his wall. He simply recognized a great catchphrase when he heard it, one that played up to his reputation as a doer, a builder: "We're going to build a wall ... and Mexico will pay for it!".

He had both houses for the first two years of his adminstration and did nothing apart from that flight ban publicity stunt. Obama deported twice as many illegals during his first term and, indeed, instituted the family separation policies and had those cages built. Trump, on the other hand, essentially wanted everyone to think he was a great guy. The best!

If the Republicans win in 2024 or 2028, however, it will either be the most actively anti-illegal migration government in American history or it will be the last ever Republican administration. The demographics are clear.

The Democrats are not proposing open borders and never have proposed open borders.

The millions of undocumented immigrants in America is a reality that needs dealing with, leaving these people without a path to citizenship and/or worse still engendering hate against them is only storing up problems for the future.

Trump is gone, he can no longer munger hatred from the WH nor use the power of government to abuse immigrants, his parting act was to ignore the cries for pardons from his supporters who committed crimes against the state on his behalf.

God riddance to bad stuff.

EVENKEEL · January 21, 2021

22 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The Democrats are not proposing open borders and never have proposed open borders.

The millions of undocumented immigrants in America is a reality that needs dealing with, leaving these people without a path to citizenship and/or worse still engendering hate against them is only storing up problems for the future.

Trump is gone, he can no longer munger hatred from the WH nor use the power of government to abuse immigrants, his parting act was to ignore the cries for pardons from his supporters who committed crimes against the state on his behalf.

God riddance to bad stuff.

Again not immigrants, they are illegal aliens if they are in the US illegally.

Sheryl · January 21, 2021

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