The COVID-19 forced the government to change immigration policies

It is well known that since the arrival of the Coronavirus in the US and the alarming number of people infected around the country, the current government suddenly changed immigration policies.

Some of the changes implemented so far are:

• The borders remain closed to all non-essential travel (which does not involve trade between countries).
• Immigrants cannot temporarily apply for asylum or refuge in the United States.
• No one can apply for Green Cards.
• The offices of the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) are closed until June 2020, at least.
• Deportations are issued faster than normal to prevent immigrants from entering detention centers of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE).

These changes have been classified as strict by several experts across the country, but the government ensures that these measures help protect the local population and the health system.

Despite the apparent intentions of the current administration to protect citizens and the economy, there is one immigration concern that has been highly controversial during the current crisis, and that is the deportation of minors.

Deportations of minors continue amid the pandemic

Border entities are currently not allowing immigrants to enter the country, following presidential orders.

Thus, when minors arrive at the borders without the company of a responsible adult, it is allowed to deport them almost immediately during the pandemic.

Official figures show that at least 600 minors were deported during April, 2020.

The Trump administration ensures that these deportations protect and safeguard the country’s resources for the local population during the health crisis caused by the Coronavirus.

The risk of deporting minors

When minors reach the borders, they are usually taken to Juvenile Detention Centers around the country.

They have the opportunity to present their immigration case to a judge. If the local judge decides that a minor does not meet the requirements to reside in the United States, the deportation should take place only after this official order is made.

Also, under the US immigration policies, a minor may be deported only to Canada or Mexico to avoid human trafficking or other imminent risks.

However, during the Coronavirus health crisis, minor deportation regulations are not fully complied.

Minors face more danger than adults for multiple reasons:

• They are the target of criminal gangs.
• They are the target of human trafficking.

In addition to that, they face the risk of getting COVID-19 and do not have any family member nearby to help with any health emergency.

If you need more information about Family Immigration, please click here or call Motion Law Immigration today at (202) 918-1799 to schedule a FREE Phone Consultation with one of our expert attorneys.

Lost documentation

One of the great criticisms that Trump’s government has received in recent years is the disorganization of minors documentation.

There are dozens of confirmed cases where minors cannot be reunited with their families because there is no record of their relatives in the border entities database.

Several testimonies around the country state that parents had to be separated from their children for a considerable amount of time because ICE could not find the record of the minors.

This happens because minors who arrive at the borders are transferred to any juvenile detention center around the country.

These centers are normally overcrowded and border entities must review the availability of each center before they can send minors to these ICE facilities.

How can you avoid this situation?

It is important to know that there are a wide variety of options to apply for legal entry and residence in the US.

What one needs to avoid this type of situation is to seek the help of an expert and follow the immigration processes correctly.

Avoid putting your family at risk and get the right guide for your immigration request to be approved by the USCIS.

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.