As the time for the transition of power draws closer, many prepare for how this shift in authority could impact their lives. One of the most vulnerable groups to this change are immigrants. While President-elect Joe Biden plans to change some of President Trump’s anti-immigration policies and actions, it is questionable as to how long these changes may take. Additionally, many wonder if there could be negative effects to these immigration policies.
Restoring a Humane Immigration System
One goal of the Biden administration, is to enforce a more fair and humane immigration system without tearing families away from each other. Biden plans to take urgent action to reverse Trump Administration’s harsh anti-immigration policies by holding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) accountable for cruel treatment. Biden also plans to protect dreamers as well as their families, rescind Muslim bans, and end damaging asylum policies for asylum-seekers and refugees.
According to the Biden campaign website, the new administration will “dramatically increase U.S. government resources to support migrants awaiting assessment of their asylum claims and to the organizations providing for their needs.” Biden promised to bring all deportations from the United States to a halt until new policies are sorted out. Activists and advocacy organizations are hoping that Biden will suspend arrests or apprehensions of immigrants as well.
The Risks Immigrants May Face
Biden plans to dismantle the Trump Administration’s plans one step at a time after he is inaugurated on Jan. 20; however, there may be some challenges that the new administration may face when trying to implement immigration reform.
Biden’s plan for immigration reform calls to expand refugee admissions to 125,000 per year. However, the cost of resettlement plays a massive factor. Due to limited funds, relocating and resettling Middle Eastern refugees will cost the United States 12 times as much as other countries adjacent to the Middle East. A refugee from the Middle East can cost about $64,370 in the first five years or $257,481 per household according to the Center for Immigration Studies.
Border Surge
Another major concern about these new policies is a migration surge during the middle of the COVID-19 outbreak. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, there have been a lack of resources and personnel resulting in slowed application processing. Some are worried that fewer checkpoints could overwhelm the system when it is not prepared to take on the increasing number of immigration cases. Overall, the Biden administration has a lot of work ahead of them with many uncertainties to handle once the new president gets into office.
Get Help with Immigration Issues Following Policy Changes
With all of the upcoming changes that are going to be occurring over the next few months, it is understandable to be feeling nervous about the immigration process. Fortunately, the attorneys at Hacking Immigration Law, LLC are committed and dedicated to assist with various types of immigration cases. Schedule an appointment today to get an evaluation of your case.
