Trump vs Biden: 2024 Immigration Policies Compared

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Key Takeaways:

Biden’s Policies: Increased refugee cap, strengthened DACA, ended “Remain in Mexico,” expanded humanitarian parole, introduced CBP One app.
Trump’s Proposals: Reinstate “Remain in Mexico,” complete border wall, mass deportation, end birthright citizenship, reduce legal immigration by 50%.
Impact and Challenges: Economic labor shortages, family separations, state resistance, and public opinion polarization on immigration policy.

How Would Trump’s and Biden’s Immigration Policies Shape the Future if They Win the 2024 Election?

The 2024 presidential election is drawing near, presenting a stark contrast between the immigration policies of Joe Biden and Donald Trump. As both candidates prepare for their campaigns, their potential impact on U.S. immigration becomes a focal point of interest. Here’s a comprehensive review of their opposing strategies and the potential outcomes of each.

Trump vs Biden: 2024 Immigration Policies Compared

What has Biden Accomplished in Immigration from 2021 to 2024?

From the start of his presidency in 2021, Joe Biden has made significant moves to modify the immigration landscape compared to his predecessor, Donald Trump.

Key Actions:
– End of the “Remain in Mexico” Policy: President Biden halted the controversial “Remain in Mexico” policy, which required asylum seekers to wait outside the U.S. while their claims were processed.
– Refugee Cap Increase: Biden raised the annual refugee cap from a historic low of 15,000 under Trump to 125,000, emphasizing humanitarian aid.
– DACA Reinforcement: Protections for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) were preserved and strengthened, providing security to “Dreamers”.
– Humanitarian Parole: The administration expanded the use of humanitarian parole for migrants from crisis-hit countries like Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.
– CBP One Application: Implemented the CBP One app to streamline asylum applications, enhancing efficiency.

Border Situation:
The southern border has seen unprecedented activity under Biden’s administration. Monthly migrant encounters hit record highs with 302,000 in December 2023, and over 2.5 million southwest border encounters occurred in FY 2023, a significant jump from 1.7 million in FY 2021. This surge has led to debates and criticism from various factions.

Recent Policy Shifts:
– Limited Border Wall Construction: In October 2023, Biden approved limited construction of the border wall in Texas, citing an “immediate need”.
– Temporary Border Closure Order: An executive order issued in June 2024 permits temporary border closure when crossings surpass capacity limits.
– Expanded Immigration Relief: Certain undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens received expanded immigration relief in June 2024.

What is Trump Proposing for Immigration if He Wins in 2024?

Donald Trump aims to reignite and intensify his stringent immigration policies if he secures the presidency again. Below are the core elements of his proposed agenda.

Border Security Enhancements:
– “Remain in Mexico” Policy: Reinstate and broaden the policy.
– Border Wall Completion: Trump vows to complete the southern border wall.
– Military Deployment: Deploy U.S. military and National Guard units to enhance border security.
– Naval Blockade: Implement a naval blockade to curb drug smuggling.

Enforcement Measures:
– Mass Deportation: Suggests a sweeping deportation effort targeting millions of unauthorized immigrants.
– End “Catch and Release”: Eliminate policies allowing release while awaiting court dates, expanding detention capacity.
– Revoke Birthright Citizenship: Plans to revoke birthright citizenship for children of unauthorized immigrants, likely via executive order.

Legal Immigration Adjustments:
– Ideological Screening: Introduce “strong ideological screening” for visa applicants.
– Limit Asylum Eligibility: Curtail asylum eligibility and fast-track removals.
– Reduce Legal Immigration: Proposes a potential reduction of legal immigration by up to 50%.
– Merit-Based Immigration: Prioritize skills-based immigration over family reunification.

How Do Biden and Trump’s Immigration Policies Differ?

Border Management:
- Biden’s Approach: Focus on expanding legal pathways for migrants and improving processing efficiency, retaining some measures from Trump’s era.
- Trump’s Approach: Return to deterrence-focused strategies with physical barriers and enforcement measures.
Interior Enforcement:
- Biden’s Policy: Minimize ICE priorities to target recent border crossers and individuals posing public safety threats.
- Trump’s Plan: Enforce widespread deportations and stricter measures across the nation.
Legal Immigration:
- Biden’s Vision: Support expanding legal immigration channels.
- Trump’s Strategy: Advocate for significant reductions and a shift towards merit-based admissions.
Asylum and Refugees:
- Biden’s Efforts: Increase refugee caps and improve the asylum process.
- Trump’s Plans: Slash refugee admissions and restrict asylum eligibility further.
Use of Executive Actions:
- Both candidates have relied on executive orders but Trump indicates a more aggressive stance on reshaping immigration policy through presidential authority.

What Could Be the Potential Impacts?

Economic Effects:
– Labor Market: Trump’s restrictive policies might worsen labor shortages in immigrant-dependent sectors like agriculture, construction, and hospitality. Biden’s policies could address workforce needs but face scrutiny over possible impacts on wages.
– Fiscal Impact: Trump’s mass deportations would entail high implementation costs but might reduce public service expenditures. Biden’s policies may incur initial costs with potential long-term economic benefits through immigrant integration.

Social and Demographic Impacts:
– Family Separation: Trump’s proposals might lead to increased family separations. Biden’s strategies aim to keep families united.
– Diversity: Trump’s reduction in family-based and diversity visas could decrease new immigrant diversity. Biden’s policies would likely preserve or boost existing diversity-promoting programs.

National Security and Public Safety:
– Border Security: Trump claims his method would better deter illegal entries and drug traffic, while Biden argues that legal expansions reduce irregular migration and target security threats more effectively.
– Crime Rates: Despite Trump’s rhetoric, research consistently shows that immigrants commit crimes at lower rates than native-born citizens. Both administrations prioritize removing serious criminals.

International Relations:
– Diplomatic Ties: Trump’s enforcement might strain relationships with neighboring countries. Biden’s cooperation-focused approach seeks regional solutions but faces criticism over perceived leniency.
– Global Humanitarian Efforts: Differing refugee policies would influence U.S. global humanitarian standing.

What Are the Implementation Challenges?

Legislative Requirements:
Major immigration reforms need legislation, posing challenges in a divided Congress. Both candidates might resort to executive actions, which could invite legal disputes.

Bureaucratic Capacity:
Quick policy shifts could overwhelm already strained immigration agencies and courts.

State and Local Resistance:
“Sanctuary” jurisdictions might defy Trump’s enforcement policies, while Biden’s lenient measures might face state-level pushbacks.

Public Opinion:
Immigration is a polarizing issue. Recent polls show 40% of Americans view it as their top concern. While around 60% support a path to citizenship for unauthorized immigrants, border security and immigration levels remain contentious topics.

How Trump’s Proposed Fee Increases Could Affect the Economy?

Trump’s plan to hike immigration-related fees aims to address various administrative and economic aspects.

Administrative Efficiency:
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) depends on fees to operate. The fee increases, detailed in the January 2024 schedule, are projected to raise an additional $1.14 billion annually, helping cover operational costs and reduce backlogs.

Labor Market Effects:
– High-Skilled Workers: Higher fees for work visas, like the H-1B, could deter employers from hiring foreign talent. The H-1B registration fee is set to increase from $10 to $215, a 2050% rise, with application fees also increasing by 70%.
– Low-Skilled Workers: Essential low-skilled workers in agriculture, construction, and hospitality might decline due to higher costs, exacerbating labor shortages.

Broader Economic Impacts:
– GDP and Productivity: Immigrants drive innovation and fill crucial skill gaps. Higher fees could hinder their positive contributions.
– Demographic Trends: Immigration offsets the aging U.S. population, stabilizing demographic shifts. Reduced immigration could challenge economic stability.
– Fiscal Impact: While first-generation immigrants have higher public service use, their offspring often contribute more through education and income. Long-term immigration has a net positive fiscal effect.

Potential Negative Consequences:
– Barriers to Naturalization: Higher naturalization fees could financially deter eligible green card holders, reducing new citizens and their economic contributions.
– Economic Inequality: Increased fees might disproportionately affect low-income immigrants, widening economic gaps.

Conclusion

The decision between Trump and Biden’s immigration policies offers two vastly different futures for the United States. Biden’s inclusive, expansion-focused approach contrasts sharply with Trump’s strict, deterrence-based agenda.

Each path presents unique economic, social, and political challenges and opportunities. With immigration remaining a top concern among voters, understanding the nuances of each policy is crucial for making an informed choice in the 2024 election. According to VisaVerge.com, staying updated on these developments will be essential as November 2024 approaches. For more detailed information about current immigration policies, you can visit the official U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website.

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Glossary of Immigration Terms

DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals): A U.S. immigration policy that provides temporary protection from deportation and work authorization to undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children. Biden has reinforced these protections during his administration.
Humanitarian Parole: A temporary permission to enter the U.S. granted on urgent humanitarian grounds or for significant public benefit. The Biden administration has expanded its use for migrants from crisis-hit countries.
Remain in Mexico Policy: A policy initiated under Trump that required asylum seekers to wait in Mexico for their U.S. immigration court dates. Biden halted this policy upon entering office.
Merit-Based Immigration: A proposed system that prioritizes immigrants based on their skills and qualifications rather than family ties. Trump advocates for this shift to reduce legal immigration and focus on skills.
Refugee Cap: The maximum number of refugees allowed to enter the U.S. each fiscal year. Biden increased this cap from 15,000 under Trump to 125,000 to emphasize humanitarian aid.

This Article In A Nutshell:

In the 2024 election, Trump aims to tighten immigration with policies like border walls and mass deportations. Biden’s approach focuses on humanitarian aid, DACA protections, and streamlined processing. Their differing strategies will shape the U.S. immigration system, impacting labor markets, family unification, and international relations.
— By VisaVerge.com

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