Biden moves to reverse Trump immigration policies, too slowly for some

[webfact]

Biden moves to reverse Trump immigration policies, too slowly for some

By Ted Hesson and Steve Holland

 

U.S. President Joe Biden signs executive orders on immigration reform inside the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., February 2, 2021. REUTERS/Tom Brenner

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday ordered a review of asylum processing at the U.S.-Mexico border and the immigration system as he seeks to undo some of former President Donald Trump's hardline policies.

 

Biden also created a task force to reunite migrant families who were separated at the border by Trump's 2018 'zero tolerance' strategy.

 

"We are going to work to undo the moral and national shame of the previous administration that literally, not figuratively, ripped children from the arms of their families," Biden said, as he signed the three immigration-related executive orders at the White House.

 

The executive orders called for a dizzying array of reviews and reports that could trigger policy changes in the weeks and months ahead, but provide limited immediate relief to immigrants barred by Trump-era rules.

 

Immigration advocates have urged the new Democratic administration to quickly undo Trump's policies but Biden aides say they need time to unravel the many layers of immigration restrictions and to put in place more migrant-friendly systems.

 

"It's not going to happen overnight," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said earlier in the day.

 

The cautious strategy reflects the tightrope Biden is walking to reverse hardline Trump policies while simultaneously trying to prevent a surge in illegal immigration. Biden opponents could also derail or slow down his agenda with lawsuits if his administration moves too quickly and fails to follow proper procedures.

 

In a sign of the wary approach, Biden's executive orders on Tuesday did not repeal an order known as 'Title 42,' which was issued under Trump to stop the spread of the coronavirus and allows U.S. authorities to expel almost all people caught crossing the border illegally.

 

He did, however, mandate a review of the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), a Trump program that ordered 65,000 asylum seekers to wait in Mexico for their U.S. court hearings.

 

The Biden administration has stopped adding people to the program but has not yet outlined how it will process the claims of those already in it.

 

Across the border in Mexico, migrants enrolled in MPP said they were anxious for news about Biden's plans for the program.

 

"I don't understand why he doesn't just say what he's going to do," said Cuban asylum seeker Yuri Gonzalez, who has been waiting for over a year in Ciudad Juarez.

 

Chad Wolf, former acting U.S. Department of Homeland Security secretary under Trump, said in an interview that halting the MPP program was a mistake because it had been an effective deterrent to illegal immigration.

 

"If you do have a surge (of migrants), you're taking one of your tools off the table," he said in reference to the program.

 

Michelle Brane, a senior director with the New York City-based Women's Refugee Commission, said advocates had been hoping for Biden's orders to be "more immediate and operational," but that they would "wait and see" what concrete steps U.S. immigration agencies take to implement the directives.

 

CHANGE IN RHETORIC

The tone of Biden's orders on Tuesday differed dramatically from Trump's incendiary immigration rhetoric depicting asylum seekers as a security threat or an economic drain on the United States.

 

"Securing our borders does not require us to ignore the humanity of those who seek to cross them," reads the order dealing with asylum.

 

But opposition from Republicans continues and lawsuits by conservative groups could potentially slow down Biden's agenda. A federal judge last week temporarily blocked one of his first immigration moves - a 100-day pause on many deportations - after the Republican-led state of Texas sought an injunction.

 

Trump won the presidency in 2016 while making border security a major theme of his campaign. If Biden fails to prevent surges in illegal immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border, he could give ammunition to Republicans in the 2022 congressional elections, said Sarah Pierce, a policy analyst with the Washington-based Migration Policy Institute.

 

"This is the thing that rallied Donald Trump supporters," she said.

 

Biden, on the other hand, pledged in his 2020 election campaign to move quickly to reunite parents and children separated at the southern border and the task force set up on Tuesday is aimed at fulfilling that promise.

 

However, it will face a daunting challenge in trying to track down the parents of more than 600 children who remain separated, according to a January court filing in a related case. The children are living with relatives or in foster care, an attorney representing plaintiffs in the litigation told Reuters.

 

The task force will be led by Alejandro Mayorkas, one of the senior officials said on Monday. The U.S. Senate on Tuesday confirmed Mayorkas as the new head of the Department of Homeland Security, the first Latino and immigrant to hold that position.

 

Biden's executive orders on Tuesday also called for a review of Trump's so-called 'public charge' rule, which makes it harder for poorer immigrants to obtain permanent residency in the United States.

 

The review is expected to start the process to rescind it, according to two people familiar with the plan.

 

(Reporting by Ted Hesson and Steve Holland in Washington; Additional reporting by Laura Gottesdiener in Monterrey, Mexico, and Jonathan Landay in Washington; Editing by Ross Colvin, Alistair Bell and Rosalba O'Brien)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-02-03

 

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[NorthernRyland]

The brilliant plan that will keep America at the top of the world stage long into the future:

 

1) Import endless millions of poverty stricken immigrants from the 3rd world.

2) Blame the various disparities on racism.

3) Spend tax revenue on anti-racism programs and social welfare programs for immigrants.

4) Repeat step 1 until America is Mexico.

[Eric Loh]

5 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

The brilliant plan that will keep America at the top of the world stage long into the future:

 

1) Import endless millions of poverty stricken immigrants from the 3rd world.

2) Blame the various disparities on racism.

3) Spend tax revenue on anti-racism programs and social welfare programs for immigrants.

4) Repeat step 1 until America is Mexico.

America done pretty well with immigrants since the early 19th century. Make them into a wealthy country and a superpower. 

[NorthernRyland]

4 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

America done pretty well with immigrants since the early 19th century. Make them into a wealthy country and a superpower. 

Those were Europeans though. Now we're talking about the underclass from various South American countries. Not even the middle class but people that are so desperate they need to enter illegally. This is a totally new class of immigrant in 2020 than in 1920. 

[placeholder]

1 hour ago, NorthernRyland said:

Those were Europeans though. Now we're talking about the underclass from various South American countries. Not even the middle class but people that are so desperate they need to enter illegally. This is a totally new class of immigrant in 2020 than in 1920. 

You mean all those wealthy, well educated Europeans w America seeking an even more fabulous life in America?

[Chomper Higgot]

2 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

Those were Europeans though. Now we're talking about the underclass from various South American countries. Not even the middle class but people that are so desperate they need to enter illegally. This is a totally new class of immigrant in 2020 than in 1920. 

The immigrants from across Europe were almost entirely the ‘underclass’ of the countries they left.

 

 

[placeholder]

16 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The immigrants from across Europe were almost entirely the ‘underclass’ of the countries they left.

It's just barely possible that in this context "Europeans" is NorthernRyland's code word for some other word.

[Sujo]

2 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

Those were Europeans though. Now we're talking about the underclass from various South American countries. Not even the middle class but people that are so desperate they need to enter illegally. This is a totally new class of immigrant in 2020 than in 1920. 

Perhaps your concern should be addressed to those that employ them.

[GrandPapillon]

2 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

The brilliant plan that will keep America at the top of the world stage long into the future:

 

1) Import endless millions of poverty stricken immigrants from the 3rd world.

2) Blame the various disparities on racism.

3) Spend tax revenue on anti-racism programs and social welfare programs for immigrants.

4) Repeat step 1 until America is Mexico.

you forgot to put COVID somewhere ????

[Eric Loh]

2 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

Those were Europeans though. Now we're talking about the underclass from various South American countries. Not even the middle class but people that are so desperate they need to enter illegally. This is a totally new class of immigrant in 2020 than in 1920. 

I don’t think the meaning of underclass which is the lowest social stratum in a country or community of poor, starving and unemployed has changed over time. 

[Cory1848]

5 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

Those were Europeans though. Now we're talking about the underclass from various South American countries. Not even the middle class but people that are so desperate they need to enter illegally. This is a totally new class of immigrant in 2020 than in 1920. 

Huh? The Europeans who entered the US in the early twentieth century were from the lowest classes, economically speaking -- why else would they be fleeing their home countries? You sound like Trump, wondering out loud why America can’t get more “Norwegians” to emigrate to the US. (Why on earth would a Norwegian want to go live there?) Also, Americans did not even consider these European immigrants to be white people at the time -- look at any political cartoons from the era depicting Irish, Italians, etc. Just as “swarthy” or “olive-skinned” -- or “brown” -- as Latin American immigrants today, for those who place importance on such things.

[thailand49]

6 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

America done pretty well with immigrants since the early 19th century. Make them into a wealthy country and a superpower. 

Agree, but that was the 19th Century, today it is the 21st,  time has changed and so must the policies of allowance.

[Eric Loh]

12 minutes ago, thailand49 said:

Agree, but that was the 19th Century, today it is the 21st,  time has changed and so must the policies of allowance.

And the President right on it pronto. 

[Nout]

When Trump used executive orders he was accused of being undemocratic but now Biden is doing the same he is lauded by the leftists and liberals. Might some people consider this shameful hypocrisy?  Just wait until the same kind of actions are used against the war on 'domestic terror' (1st Ammendment Rights to Freedom of Speech) as already mooted by AOC..

[DogNo1]

Assimilation takes a while and doesn’t work well when the ideology of cultural relativism is a primary theme and the number of immigrants is high relative to the native-born population.  The problem now is that the Democrats are using large numbers of immigrants as a political strategy to gain political dominance.  It wasn’t too many years ago when the Democrats were saying that the borders should be enforced and illegal immigration stopped.  Now many of the people who benefitted from the past two amnesties for illegal immigrants are in positions of power so the policy has changed.

[simple1]

24 minutes ago, Nout said:

When Trump used executive orders he was accused of being undemocratic but now Biden is doing the same he is lauded by the leftists and liberals. Might some people consider this shameful hypocrisy?  Just wait until the same kind of actions are used against the war on 'domestic terror' (1st Ammendment Rights to Freedom of Speech) as already mooted by AOC..

 

Just as trump's EOs on immigration / travel to the US were challenged in the Courts with wins and losses, no doubt the same will occur with Biden's EOs. 

 

One assumes 'domestic terror' matters will need to be enacted under law, not by EO, Any change/s to the First Amendment would require a change to the Constitution.

 

As 

[Chomper Higgot]

2 hours ago, Nout said:

When Trump used executive orders he was accused of being undemocratic but now Biden is doing the same he is lauded by the leftists and liberals. Might some people consider this shameful hypocrisy?  Just wait until the same kind of actions are used against the war on 'domestic terror' (1st Ammendment Rights to Freedom of Speech) as already mooted by AOC..

You need to revisit the facts.

 

In the 2016 election Trump and the Republicans made a big issue of Obama’s use of Executive Orders, Obama averaged 35 per year through his two terms.

 

Trump came in and averaged 55 per year, but of course, happily, he lost the 2020 election one settled for two impeachments instead of two terms.

 

Biden’s executive orders are reversing the most egregiously harmful EO’s signed by Trump.

[thailand49]

2 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

And the President right on it pronto. 

Your opinion I seriously even thinks he even knows what he signed and that comes from a Democrat, he is nothing but just a puppet now!

[wwest5829]

8 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

Those were Europeans though. Now we're talking about the underclass from various South American countries. Not even the middle class but people that are so desperate they need to enter illegally. This is a totally new class of immigrant in 2020 than in 1920. 

Ignorance is not your friend. Better to study some US immigration history. Early immigration, yes from N. Europe (but my Irish forebears coming en masse were not middle class by any means). My English DNA comes from the poor in London and Quakers fleeing religious discrimination/inprisonment. Many, including my German blood came for the same economic reasons as immigrants leave their homes today. Ah, yes, then we had those Mediterranean Italian Catholics coming in and ... there was reaction, they were not WASP culture ... No, the US reaction to any new immigration mass movement is nothing new. But then the US has been a bilingual nation ever since absorbing roughly half of Mexico. Want to stop or at least slow immigration? Look to addressing why people in those countries are fleeing and put in place policies that support their staying in their home countries. Careful, having studied US-Latin American relations ... supporting totalitarian regimes controlled by the wealthy and I can continue ...

[J Town]

4 minutes ago, thailand49 said:

Your opinion I seriously even thinks he even knows what he signed and that comes from a Democrat, he is nothing but just a puppet now!

President Biden is getting on in years, he stumbles when speaking for having a stuttering condition, but he knows exactly what he's doing. He recently said he's not writing new law, he's setting right the atrocious wrongs from the previous administration.

[wwest5829]

6 hours ago, placeholder said:

It's just barely possible that in this context "Europeans" is NorthernRyland's code word for some other word.

He is, without doubt, referring to the WASP culture ...

[wwest5829]

3 hours ago, thailand49 said:

Agree, but that was the 19th Century, today it is the 21st,  time has changed and so must the policies of allowance.

I have no issue with the need to have a stated, understood, just, immigration policy. I am hoping that the political parties stop playing political football with this (and other) issues. Both have kicked the can down the road ignoring their fiduciary responsibilities to tackle the complicated issues. Reacting emotionally as done with the incompetent last administration certainly was not the right thing to do.

Edited February 3, 2021 by wwest5829

[wwest5829]

2 hours ago, Nout said:

When Trump used executive orders he was accused of being undemocratic but now Biden is doing the same he is lauded by the leftists and liberals. Might some people consider this shameful hypocrisy?  Just wait until the same kind of actions are used against the war on 'domestic terror' (1st Ammendment Rights to Freedom of Speech) as already mooted by AOC..

We may well agree that EOs are not the preferred method to govern. I would much rather see Congress introducing Bills, assigning to Committee, bringing forth studies, experts to give input as to what are the best policy options, bringing the Bill to the floor for Debate and the Vote ...but ... Aside from the way things are designed to work ... EOs reversing poor policy by the last administration is best for my country right now. Damage needs to be addressed.

[billd766]

6 hours ago, GrandPapillon said:

you forgot to put COVID somewhere ????

Don't you think that the USA has enough Covid of its own to deal with, courtesy of the former president for the last 4 years?

 

Most of it brought in by legal aliens.

[Tug]

9 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

The brilliant plan that will keep America at the top of the world stage long into the future:

 

1) Import endless millions of poverty stricken immigrants from the 3rd world.

2) Blame the various disparities on racism.

3) Spend tax revenue on anti-racism programs and social welfare programs for immigrants.

4) Repeat step 1 until America is Mexico.

I beg to differ I’ve known many Latinos personally over the years dated a few of the lady’s (excellent) cooks btw for the VAST majority are hard working family oriented and religious just the kind of folks I want on my team I could say more but I don’t want to get in trouble with the moderators 

[placeholder]

48 minutes ago, wwest5829 said:

Ignorance is not your friend. Better to study some US immigration history. Early immigration, yes from N. Europe (but my Irish forebears coming en masse were not middle class by any means). My English DNA comes from the poor in London and Quakers fleeing religious discrimination/inprisonment. Many, including my German blood came for the same economic reasons as immigrants leave their homes today. Ah, yes, then we had those Mediterranean Italian Catholics coming in and ... there was reaction, they were not WASP culture ... No, the US reaction to any new immigration mass movement is nothing new. But then the US has been a bilingual nation ever since absorbing roughly half of Mexico. Want to stop or at least slow immigration? Look to addressing why people in those countries are fleeing and put in place policies that support their staying in their home countries. Careful, having studied US-Latin American relations ... supporting totalitarian regimes controlled by the wealthy and I can continue ...

Actually, there was a major political movement called, appropriately enough, the "Know Nothings" (though not for the obvious reason) who were fiercely against the wave of poor Irish Catholic immigrants flooding into American cities.

 

How the 19th-Century Know Nothing Party Reshaped American Politics

From xenophobia to conspiracy theories, the Know Nothing party launched a nativist movement whose effects are still felt today

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/immigrants-conspiracies-and-secret-society-launched-american-nativism-180961915/

[thailand49]

52 minutes ago, J Town said:

President Biden is getting on in years, he stumbles when speaking for having a stuttering condition, but he knows exactly what he's doing. He recently said he's not writing new law, he's setting right the atrocious wrongs from the previous administration.

You have all the right to believe what you want, 50 years and he has done nothing but been on the wrong side of the issues. He is nothing more than a puppet having easy question thrown his way. He is getting all the question ahead and his staff is providing answers in front of him. Watch his eyes and facial expression he is reading off something.  I didn't support Trump but Biden is living in a dream world if it wasn't for Trump big mouth and the pandemic neither him or Harris could win based on their history!

[thailand49]

57 minutes ago, wwest5829 said:

I have no issue with the need to have a stated, understood, just, immigration policy. I am hoping that the political parties stop playing political football with this (and other) issues. Both have kicked the can down the road ignoring their fiduciary responsibilities to tackle the complicated issues. Reacting emotionally as done with the incompetent last administration certainly was not the right thing to do.

I agree but that is politics 101 as it works, when it comes to immigration Obama and Biden did far worse. Biden even supported the wall years back even many of Trumps position people hate Trump so much ( for good reasons ) they can't seem to remember their past position.

 

Like many my family were immigrants applied and stood in line, what is happening today is nothing but to get votes, I've been down the border it is just madness we won't allow British or Europeans now due to the pandemic to fly into the U.S. but we are going to allow Thousand undocumented just walk in!  It is insane so that one day they will vote democrat!  it will never end! My mother to escape the Japanese and later the Communist carried my older brother and walk hundred of miles to Hong Kong, waited her turn, until my dad who fought in WW2 and was able to bring them over to the States. Someone stated since the 19 century will that was the way it was done then not what we are seeing today!

Edited February 3, 2021 by thailand49

[placeholder]

8 minutes ago, thailand49 said:

You have all the right to believe what you want, 50 years and he has done nothing but been on the wrong side of the issues. He is nothing more than a puppet having easy question thrown his way. He is getting all the question ahead and his staff is providing answers in front of him. Watch his eyes and facial expression he is reading off something.  I didn't support Trump but Biden is living in a dream world if it wasn't for Trump big mouth and the pandemic neither him or Harris could win based on their history!

Nonsense. It's easy to access transcripts of his conversations in recent interviews where he demonstrates that his is fully rational, and has a strong factual grasp of the issues. These are aptitutdes that Trump repeatedly demonstrated he never possessed while in office. 

 

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/read-full-transcript-joe-bidens-abc-news-town/story?id=73643517

https://www.rev.com/blog/transcripts/joe-biden-60-minutes-interview-transcript

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/transcript-joe-biden-on-face-the-nation-february-23-2020/

https://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000175-5a8f-dc88-a97f-fadf50c50000

 

As for your observations about Biden's demeanor, a psychologist named Rorschach tells us all we need to know about the objective value of your observations.

[thailand49]

1 hour ago, J Town said:

President Biden is getting on in years, he stumbles when speaking for having a stuttering condition, but he knows exactly what he's doing. He recently said he's not writing new law, he's setting right the atrocious wrongs from the previous administration.

Sadly no one had the balls to ask him give me an example of one of the atrocious wrongs from previous administration of course the question would have to been submitted and answer provided in front of him. Actually watch the footage his facial expression his eyes he barely got through it.????