Five key immigration news updates this week
From a deferred departure memo from President Joe Biden to executive action consideration about dealing with the continued onslaught of immigrants at the Southern border, here are five key immigration news updates this week.
1: With election months away, Biden eyes executive action
With the countdown to the November general elections, where it seems there will be a rematch of President Biden versus Donald Trump, Biden is seemingly eyeing executive action to deal with the crisis at the U.S. southern border. Immigration yet again becomes the hot button issue of the 2024 elections.
In Washington, Biden, according to the Associated Press, disclosed to governors nationwide on February 23 that he is considering executive action to manage migration at the southern border, following the collapse of a bipartisan congressional deal earlier this month.
Biden reportedly also called on the governors to encourage their congressional representatives to revive the failed bipartisan agreement, which fell apart in just two days and criticized the Republicans for withdrawing from the deal—influenced by former President Donald Trump’s opposition.
“Our immigration system is outdated, both in terms of laws and resources,” Biden reportedly remarked, pointing to “petty politics” as the reason for the deal’s failure.
Biden is pondering the use of Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows the president substantial discretion to prohibit the entry of certain immigrants if deemed harmful to national interests. This consideration follows the model of some of Trump’s controversial immigration policies, which Biden had overturned upon taking office.
2: Prince Harry’s case
The immigration case on whether Prince Harry’s visa application should be public, given his drug use confessions in his memoir “Spare,” got underway in federal court in D.C. on Feb. 23 before Judge Carl J. Nicholas. The case, The Heritage Foundation versus the U.S. DHS, saw the Biden administration’s lawyers arguing in court last Friday that Prince Harry’s memoir, which includes drug use admissions, might not be factual and could be aimed at boosting sales. DHS attorney John Bardo emphasized that the book is not legally binding evidence of drug use. Bardo also suggested it’s plausible that Harry used a diplomatic visa given his royal status.
The Heritage Foundation, however, argued for access to his immigration files, highlighting the potential impact of his drug use admissions on visa processes. Samuel Dewey, representing the Foundation, labeled Bardo’s claim as “absurd” due to Harry’s estranged relations with the Royal Family at that time
The Prince Harry case raises questions about immigration policy, especially regarding public figures with disclosed drug use. It is unclear when Judge Nicholas will make a decision on the case.
3: Trump pushes “Poisoning the blood of our country” rhetoric
Now that Donald Trump looks like the Republican frontrunner he is ramping up his xenophobic rhetoric against immigrants.
Trump has escalated his use of dehumanizing language to describe migrants, accusing them of “poisoning the blood of our country” and calling the record unauthorized border crossings an “invasion,” an “open wound,” and a source of imminent terrorist attacks.
Trump also is discussing plans to ramp up deportation efforts, potentially using military resources for mass deportations and establishing detention camps. This initiative, which revisits discussions from Trump’s presidency about employing military planes and bases for deportations, is raising concerns over feasibility and safety.
The proposed actions have sparked intense debate, highlighting the divisive nature of Trump’s immigration policies and rhetoric.
4: Deferred departure granted for Palestinians in the U.S.
On February 14, President Biden instructed Alejandro Mayorkas, the Secretary of Homeland Security of the United States, to delay the deportation of Palestinians present in the U.S. for the next 18 months, with exceptions for individuals:
- Who have willingly returned to the Palestinian territories following the issuance of the President’s directive;
- Who have not maintained continuous residence in the United States since February 14, 2024;
- Deemed inadmissible under section 212(a)(3) or deportable under section 237(a)(4) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA);
- Convicted of any felony or two or more misdemeanors in the U.S., or who satisfy any criteria outlined in section 208(b)(2)(A) of the INA;
- Under extradition orders;
- Considered by the Secretary of Homeland Security as detrimental to U.S. interests or a threat to public safety;
- Whose stay, according to the Secretary of State, could lead to significant adverse effects on U.S. foreign policy.
President Biden further instructed Mayorkas to grant work authorizations for the duration of 18 months to Palestinian non-citizens whose deportation has been deferred and to evaluate the relaxation of regulations for F-1 nonimmigrant Palestinian students. This memorandum must be published in the Federal Register to take effect.
5: USCIS reduces backlog
Officials of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) say that for the first time in over a decade, it has reduced backlogs in case processing, particularly for humanitarian and employment-based immigration.
In FY 2023, USCIS received 10.9 million filings and completed more than 10 million pending cases. In doing so, the agency said it reduced overall backlogs by 15%. Among USCIS’ record number of case completions in FY 2023, the agency also administered the Oath of Allegiance to more than 878,500 new U.S. citizens, including 12,000 members of the military, effectively eliminating the backlog of naturalization applications.
Felicia J. Persaud is the publisher of NewsAmericasNow.com, a daily news outlet focusing on Black immigrant issues.
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