Analyzing President Joe Biden’s Immigration Reform Outline

The 2016 Presidential Election spotlighted many hot-button topics, but none as contentious as the issue of Immigration on America’s Southern border. Questions about Border Protection, Wall infrastructure, and the more general process of obtaining citizenship were heard on a national stage. Former President Donald Trump was renowned for his hardline approach towards regulation on the Mexican-American border, and entered the Whitehouse with promises to “Build That Wall”. By the end of his first and only term as President, Trump had not necessarily lived up to his border infrastructure promises, but had certainly made the situation at the Mexican-American border more divisive and intense. Although most of President Trump’s extremely aggressive immigration orders were shot down in court, his administration has become responsible for the displacement of 2,654 children of immigrant families, according to data released by the United States government.

The inauguration of the 46^th President of the United States, Joe Biden, marks a new age for immigration reform. Since his inauguration, President Biden has signed 29 executive orders, most of which are in response to policies that dominated the Trump administration. In addition to President Bidens efforts to reverse Trump’s actions as President, Biden has promised to address the situation on the Mexican American Border. The White House Website compiles President Bidens statements and public releases, and holds Bidens plan to counter the former Presidents aggressive Border approach.

“On January 20th, the Biden Harris Administration took the first steps in a broad, whole of government effort to finally reform our immigration system, including sending to Congress legislation that creates a pathway to citizenship for the nearly 11 million undocumented immigrants living in and contributing to our country.”

I was immediately impressed by President Bidens swiftness in terms of taking well meditated and straightforward action to reform America’s immigration system. Joe Bidens administration made it clear the how they were going to deal with the millions of undocumented migrants living and working inside of the United States illegally. In the year of 2019, Southwest Border apprehensions and deportations doubled from 2018 and reached its highest point since the early 2000s. This staggering inflation of deportations and apprehensions is a result of both President Trump’s aggressive policies, and an influx of Southern Migrants seeking refuge. Biden’s plan to offer a path to citizenship to undocumented citizens identified by the federal government is in direct opposition to his predecessor’s approach.

When visiting the city of El Paso, Texas, I learned just how dependent some Southwest cities are on undocumented immigrants. While speaking to a city representative, she described to me and my travel group the essential benefits that undocumented people provide to the city of El Paso, such as business and construction work. The University of Texas El Paso, or UTEP, even makes special accommodations for undocumented migrants. UTEP works closely with undocumented families in order to provide college age students with a degree without the risk of deportation. Despite the accommodations that some Southwest cities make towards undocumented migrants, the lifestyle is less than ideal. Something as minor as a speeding ticket can result in deportation. America’s deportation process lacks uniformity and organization. Patrons are often detained in detention centers prior to their deportation court date. Those apprehended may have no chance to communicate with their family during this time, or may not be willing to give up their families location. This leads to the displacement of thousands of fathers and mothers. Naturally, those who leave family behind in America will seek re-entry after their deportation, making the process ineffective.

Although I do not necessarily support illegal immigration, I am overjoyed to see Biden’s willingness to work with those who have already entered the United States illegally. Prior attempts to apprehend undocumented immigrants who have already established roots in the United States have proven to be inhumane, and not conducive to overall border protection. One possible consequence of Bidens lenience towards current undocumented migrants may be an increased focus on the current situation at the border. The President and his team can focus on overcrowding and injustice at the border, instead of letting the issue compound on itself while resources are being placed elsewhere.

Another essential component of President Biden’s Immigration plan is to “Develop a Strategy to Address Irregular Migration Across the Southern Border and Create a Humane Asylum System.” Although dealing with Mexican-American immigration is often associated with border control, there are many steps that can be taken to prevent border conflict in the first place.

The asylum-seeking process under the Trump administration was hazy and extremely difficult to maneuver. Some of the most common critiques of the system as described by asylum seekers were its inability to keep asylum seekers informed, an inability to protect asylum seekers, and its capacity for causing further harm towards refugee families. Many of the separated children that the United government has reported came from families seeking asylum. One of the most silent evils of America’s current asylum system is the fact that asylum seekers are often sent back to the very homes that they fled while they wait to be accepted. An asylum seeker named Elisa describes….

“I couldn’t fight back, I didn’t want them to hurt my kids, so we left.”

The current asylum system offers two options for those seeking refuge in the United States: Risk government separation, or wait in the very place that you escaped from for approval to enter the United States at an indeterminate date.

President Biden’s administration proposes a three part plan with the goal of “safe, lawful, and orderly migration” The administration vows to attempt to remedy the foreign injustices that lead to asylum seekers, work with other nations to create a process in which host countries play equal roles in granting asylum, and ensuring an efficient and legitimate path towards citizenship in the United States. In my opinion, the final two goals of Biden’s asylum plan are the most crucial. Injustices in foreign nations will likely continue to persist, and may be increased if the United States attempts to intervene. A close partnership with European host countries will help create more transparency throughout the asylum process, and help families better navigate their search for a new home.

Overall, President Bidens initial Immigration Plans as described through the White House Website are as ambitious as President Trumps were, but on the complete opposite end of the political spectrum. Although I support many of Biden’s future immigration plans, I have serious questions about how whether or not these ambitions will actually cement themselves into American law. This Blog will track the effectiveness of the Biden Administration’s immigration efforts, as well as highlight the situation across the Southwest border.