How will the Biden Administration affect immigration? A view from the border
By Elket Rodríguez
Moderation, pragmatism and renovation can be expected from the Biden Administration’s immigration platform.
President-elect Joe Biden has announced an ambitious immigration plan for his first 100 days in office. He intends to discontinue:
• Immigrant family separation at the border
• The public charge rule, which prevents immigration of refugees whom government officials believe might receive public assistance
• Immigrant travel bans
• Construction of the Trump Administration’s border wall
• Restrictions to the U.S. asylum process
Biden has promised to increase the number of refugees admitted into the country. And he intends to introduce legislation that will create a path to citizenship for DACA—Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals—recipients, as well as 11 million undocumented immigrants.
Many of these policies can be implemented without congressional consent through executive orders, policy memorandums and the administrative rule making process. Other proposals—such as reforming the immigration system and carving a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients and undocumented immigrants—will require legislation from Congress.
However, what stands out about Biden’s immigration platform is it recognizes immigration problems are not resolved without addressing the root causes of migration. In that sense, the Biden administration plans to convene a regional meeting of leaders from Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador to discuss the factors driving migration to the southern border and propose a regional solution to those issues. Climate change has caused unprecedented drought in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, leaving millions of people hungry and without work, forcing them to move north. The World Bank estimates more than 4 million Central Americans will become climate migrants by 2050.
Thousands of asylum seekers flee persecution from organized criminal organizations that have cemented control over some Central American countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Other immigrants are leaving gender-based violence. And some are fleeing their own governments, which are unable or unwilling to tackle corruption.
Recognizing migration does not happen in a vacuum is a historical advance. With Biden’s proposals, such recognition is framed by—and intends to influence—foreign policy. Immigration reform and a sound domestic immigration policy won’t fix the immigration system if improvements are not coupled with related policies that affect the migrant flow to our borders.
Biden’s platform also acknowledges the United States needs immigrants to maintain its economic growth, maintain solvency of the Social Security system and mitigate the economic impact of the United States’ aging population. Abundant research shows the United States’ prosperity is linked to more immigrants being allowed into the country through a visa system that responds to the nation’s economic needs.
Still, CBF’s Advocacy Action Team for Immigrants and Refugees is committed to seek justice for the immigrants among us. The team’s resolve stems from loyalty to God and love of neighbor.
In that vein, CBF Advocacy will continue to push for policies in the new administration and through Congress that conform to our values and principles. We commit to keep you informed when your voice can have the most impact. By working together, we hope to ensure the critical changes included in the new administration’s platform will become a reality for the sake of immigrants.
CBF is a member organization of the Interfaith Immigration Coalition. To see the coalition’s priority recommendations for the Biden-Harris Administration to Restore Welcome from 2021 to 2025, click here.
Elket Rodríguez is the immigrant and refugee advocacy and missions specialist for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and Fellowship Southwest.