Joe Biden has made several promises to undo many of the immigration roadblocks the Trump administration established in the last few years, which is why his victory has restored a sense of hope for immigrants of all statuses. Whether he can accomplish his immigration-related goals, however, may depend on which party controls the Senate, which we won’t officially know until the Georgia runoff elections scheduled for January. However, some changes may be possible via executive order, which is what Trump used to restrict the immigration system in several ways.
Without further ado, here are 5 of the immigration changes Biden has promised to make when he takes office.
1. End of Border Wall Construction
More a symbol than an effective deterrent of immigration, the border wall was one of Trump’s biggest promises to his support base. He even declared a national emergency and diverted billions of dollars from the Department of Defense earlier this year to continue building the wall.
Biden has said he will stop the construction of this wall immediately. He wants to ensure border protection but in a “high-tech capacity.”
2. Improvement of Asylum
Currently, about 67,000 asylum-seekers are waiting in Mexico while their cases are adjudicated. This is because of Trump’s “Remain in Mexico” policy, which Biden plans to end.
While the policy that allowed CBP to separate families is no longer in effect, Biden intends to repair the damage by establishing a task force that will help hundreds of children who still haven’t found their parents.
3. End of Muslim Ban
On his first day of office, Biden plans to end the travel ban Trump instated against predominately Muslim countries. He also wants to pass hate crimes legislation that will prevent future politicians from creating similarly prejudiced policies.
4. Reinstatement of DACA
Trump tried to abolish Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), but the Supreme Court denied this attempt. Nevertheless, the Department of Homeland Security stopped accepting initial requests for DACA, and it began to renew DACA for only one year instead of the usual two. Biden’s plan is to restore DACA to its original operations.
5. New Path to Citizenship
Even with DACA, childhood arrivals aren’t able to apply for lawful permanent residence, which means they can never be eligible for citizenship. Biden intends to push forward legislation that creates a path to citizenship for not just DACA recipients but also approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants currently living in the United States.
Supporting You No Matter What the Future May Hold
Biden may be able to make some of these changes via executive order, but more serious form will require congressional support—and a good deal of time. At US Legal Group, APC, we have stood by families from all around the world as they fought for better futures and overcame tremendous obstacles. We have the experience, knowledge, and drive needed to help you accomplish your immigration goals in the face of an uncertain future, and we look forward to taking on your case as soon as possible.
Learn what we can do for you and your loved ones by calling (714) 921-5226 or contacting us online today. We can begin with a free initial consultation.
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