President Joe Biden has proposed a series of new executive actions aimed at protecting certain undocumented immigrants and strengthening border security. These measures seek to address the migrant crisis at the southern border of the United States amid intense political and social pressure.
New Measures for the Protection of Undocumented Immigrants
Executive Actions and the Asylum Process
Biden has announced the issuance of a proclamation under sections 212(f) and 215(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. This proclamation will suspend the entry of non-citizens who illegally cross the southern border. Additionally, an interim rule from the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security will restrict asylum for these non-citizens. These actions will take effect when encounters at the southern border exceed the capacity of the U.S. system to respond, allowing immigration officers to quickly remove those without a legal basis to stay in the country. (The White House) (POLITICO).
Strengthening the Asylum Screening Process
The Department of Homeland Security has proposed a rule to ensure that migrants posing a risk to public or national security are removed as soon as possible. This measure aims to streamline the asylum process and ensure quicker consequences for those without a legal basis to stay. (UPI) (POLITICO).
Revocation of Visas and Measures Against Human Smuggling
The administration has also taken steps to revoke visas of executives and government officials who profit from migrant smuggling. These actions include visa restrictions for more than 250 members of the Nicaraguan government and non-governmental actors involved in the sale of transit visas. (The White House).
Dismantling Human Smuggling Networks
The Department of State and the Department of Justice have launched an "Anti-Smuggling Rewards" initiative to dismantle human smuggling organizations operating in Central America and crossing the southern border of the United States. This initiative offers financial rewards for information leading to the identification, location, arrest or conviction of those most responsible for these activities. (The White House) (UPI).
Biden's new executive actions represent a significant effort to address the crisis at the border and protect certain undocumented immigrants. While these measures are temporary and contingent on the situation at the border, they underscore the urgency of comprehensive legislative reform to ensure more effective and humane management of the U.S. immigration system.
For more details, you can read the complete articles at PBS NewsHour and The White House.
