Biden’s first week: Actions on the immigration system

One of the Biden government’s pillars is immigration, but it has a different vision compared to previous administrations. For the current administration of the US, reforming the local immigration system and expanding alternatives for immigrant populations is a priority.

Therefore, since President Biden launched his political campaign for the 2020 elections, he highlighted the need to restructure the immigration sector from day one in office and implement policies that prevent future administrations from arbitrarily restricting immigration.

President Biden took office on January 20, 2021 and, as promised, has used several tools at his disposal to remove Trump’s restrictions on the local immigration system and gradually reorganize current policies to benefit both immigrant communities and American citizens.

Let’s look at some actions of President Biden during his first week in office:

1. Immigration bill

President Biden introduced a rather ambitious immigration bill for Congress approval. If approved, the Biden administration would offer a path to citizenship for eligible undocumented immigrants, increase surveillance at the borders through infrastructure and technology, expand alternatives available to highly qualified foreign workers, fund integration programs for vulnerable communities such as asylum seekers, inter alia.

It is important to clarify that the US has not had comprehensive immigration reform since 1986. Therefore, if the Biden administration gets approval from Congress, it could change the future of immigration in North America.

2. Halt construction of the border wall

The Trump administration used the border wall as a primary strategy to reduce irregular immigration from Central America.

However, President Biden disagrees with this strategy, stating that it is “costly and inefficient.” Therefore, during his first day in office, he ordered a halt to the construction of the border wall that separates the US from Mexico and plans to use other methods to curb illegal immigration.

3. Freeze restrictions on H-1B visas

The Trump administration tried to restrict business immigration, primarily after the arrival of the global Coronavirus pandemic, arguing that foreign workers fill jobs that should be available to the American population.

On the contrary, the Biden government states that foreign workforce is essential in times of crisis, from visas related to the US food supply chain, to visas for highly skilled workers in sectors such as technology and science.

Therefore, the Biden administration suspended the Trump administration’s restrictions on the H-1B visa program (highly qualified foreign workers) until further notice.

4. Rescind the “Zero Tolerance Policy”

Trump’s “Zero Tolerance Policy” states that immigrants who try to cross borders without legal documentation must face criminal prosecution, except for minors, who are protected by local law. Hence, this policy led to the separation of thousands of immigrant families.

The Biden government officially removed the “Zero Tolerance Policy” and declared that its immigration proposals will prevent the separation of families at the borders.

5. Suspend the MPP program

In 2019, former president Trump signed an agreement with Mexico called MPP (Migrant Protection Protocol) or “Remain in Mexico.” This policy forced thousands of asylum seekers to remain in Mexico for several months or even more than a year, amid the global health crisis, while they await the response to their immigration applications.

The Biden administration ordered the suspension of the MPP policy and banned asylum seekers from enrolling in this program as of January 21.

Motion Law’s team can help you with your immigration case

It is imperative to seek reliable help to start your immigration journey in the US, mainly because the local immigration system is quite extensive and many immigration processes will surely change under the Biden administration again.

If you have any questions about an immigration issue or relating to a case you may have currently in progress, then please don’t hesitate to contact us for a FREE Phone Consultation with one of our expert immigration attorneys.

Simply call Motion Law today at: (202) 918-1799.