Biden Urged to Act on Immigrant Protection Before Trump's Return

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Key Takeaways

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Democratic senators urge President Biden to act fast to protect immigrants’ Temporary Protected Status (TPS) amid Trump’s deportation plans.
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Proposed actions include TPS redesignation for certain countries, expedited DACA processing, and extended work permits for immigrants.
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Economic impact concerns arise from potential mass deportations, risking labor shortages and higher consumer prices in essential sectors.

As the clock ticks down to the transition of power, President Joe Biden is under considerable pressure from Democratic lawmakers and immigrant advocates. They are urging him to act quickly to protect the temporary legal status of many immigrants. This push is a response to President-elect Donald Trump’s promises to carry out mass deportations and tighten immigration rules when he takes over the presidency.

The Call for Action

Biden Urged to Act on Immigrant Protection Before Trump’s Return

Three Democratic senators are spearheading this appeal: Alex Padilla from California, Catherine Cortez Masto from Nevada, and Ben Ray Luján from New Mexico. They’ve written a letter to provide a clear message to President Biden: urgent action is needed to protect many immigrants. Their key focus is on Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a policy that lets individuals from countries experiencing problems like war or natural disasters live and work in the United States temporarily.

The senators argue that aside from the obvious moral need to protect these individuals, there is also an economic reason. Senator Padilla points out that mass deportations would be bad news for the economy and could lead to higher costs for American consumers. Removing workers could result in a lack of labor, greatly impacting the workforce across the country.

Key Requests and Proposals

The Democratic lawmakers have suggested several actions they would like to see from the Biden administration:

Redesignation of TPS: They want President Biden to give TPS status to countries like Nicaragua 🇳🇮, El Salvador 🇸🇻, and Venezuela 🇻🇪 again.
New TPS Designation: They suggest giving Ecuador 🇪🇨 TPS protection.
Expedited DACA Processing: They also propose making the process faster for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), a policy for young people brought to the U.S. as children.
Extension of Work Permits: They advocate extending work authorizations for immigrants with a temporary legal status.

The Scale of the Issue

The potential impact of these decisions is huge. In California, there are around 68,000 people with TPS and 150,000 DACA recipients. Nationwide, over 860,000 immigrants from 17 different countries are under this program. The Biden administration had increased the number of people eligible for TPS during its time in office, highlighting how massive the reach of this policy is.

Trump’s Stated Plans

The urgency behind these requests is real, given Trump’s statements and plans for when he assumes office. Trump has clearly stated his intention to take firm steps against immigrants. He plans to start mass deportations promptly once in power. In a recent interview, he even said that the only way to keep immigrant families from being split up is by deporting the whole family, including children born in the U.S.

Preparations for Mass Deportations

Reports suggest Trump’s team is already preparing for a large-scale deportation plan. Their strategy includes:

Expanding Detention Facilities: Trump’s team is identifying big urban areas where more people can be detained.
Reviving “Remain in Mexico”: A program where migrants must stay in Mexico during their U.S. immigration process is likely to be brought back.
Modifying Asylum Rules: They plan to make it tougher for people to seek asylum.
Rescinding Biden-era Protections: Any humanitarian protections put in place by Biden are in danger of being overturned.
Changing ICE Enforcement Priorities: There’s a plan to broaden what Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) can do.

There are growing concerns about the economic effects of these mass deportations. Advocates say that removing so many workers could lead to shortages in essential industries and possibly higher prices for consumers. Socially, the consequences of splitting up families and disrupting communities could be profound, affecting many lives.

Challenges and Constraints

President Biden’s administration faces several obstacles in responding to these calls:

Time Constraints: There’s little time before Trump takes over, making it hard to introduce new policies or extend existing protections.
Legal and Procedural Hurdles: Making new or refreshed TPS designations must be done through certain legal steps.
Political Considerations: Balancing what their supporters want against possible political backlash is also a concern. Immigration was a key topic in the recent election.
Funding Issues: Extending protections or implementing new ones might need additional funding, which could be hard to secure.

The Role of Congress

While the focus is mostly on executive actions from President Biden, Congress still plays a critical role in these immigration matters. Some legislators argue that long-lasting solutions are needed through laws. However, the division in the incoming Congress might hinder comprehensive immigration reform from passing, making it a challenging road ahead.

Public Opinion and Debate

Immigration is a heavily debated topic in American politics. While many support protecting immigrants and having a diverse workforce, others prefer stricter control over immigration. This divide is likely to grow as the transition approaches and Trump’s administration starts putting its plans into action.

Looking Ahead

As the Biden administration weighs its options, immigrant communities and their supporters are in a state of anxiety. The choices made in the upcoming weeks could affect a significant number of people in the U.S. As reported by VisaVerge.com, the shifting policies highlight how unstable U.S. immigration policy can be, especially because it often changes with each new administration.

This cycle of uncertainty leaves immigrant communities in limbo, unsure of what the future holds. As the days count down to the transition of power, the decisions made by President Biden will be crucial. They have the potential to change the lives of thousands of immigrants and, by doing so, impact American society in both immediate and long-lasting ways.

For those interested, more detailed and authoritative information on immigration policies can be found at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which offers guidance on current policies and procedures. The focus now remains on what actions, if any, President Biden will take to address these urgent calls for protection and what these actions will mean for America’s immigration landscape.

Learn Today

Temporary Protected Status (TPS): A policy allowing nationals from crisis-affected countries to live and work in the U.S. temporarily.
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA): A program protecting eligible immigrant youth from deportation and providing work permits, renewable every two years.
“Remain in Mexico”: A policy requiring asylum seekers to stay in Mexico while awaiting U.S. immigration court hearings.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): A U.S. agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws, including arresting and deporting individuals violating these laws.
Asylum: Protection granted to individuals in the U.S. who fear persecution in their home country due to race, religion, nationality, or political opinion.

This Article in a Nutshell

As President Biden faces pressure to safeguard immigrant rights, Democratic lawmakers urge swift action on Temporary Protected Status (TPS). With Trump’s impending deportation plans, senators advocate TPS redesignations and expedited DACA processing. The administration is constrained by time and politics, making this transition crucial for immigrant communities nationwide.
— By VisaVerge.com