The current administration’s stance on immigration continues to be positive. It is fair to say that we are on an upward trajectory. After President Biden took office, it was clear to many that the administration took a very different approach to immigration than the previous one. When you look over the verbiage used by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), you will notice that the word “alien” is no longer used to describe foreign nationals. Now, they are referred to as “non-citizens.”
It is a testament to how much the current administration wants to change how we view others. Their actions speak louder than any other administration. After taking command, the President halted the construction of the wall that was to be built on the US-Mexico border. They set a respectful and welcoming tone from the start.
Still Room For Optimism
Though there are many things to be optimistic about, there are still some bad policies. One such example is the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP). As a reminder, the US government initiated these in January of 2019. Under MPP, the U.S. government forces immigrants to return to Mexico to await their immigration/removal proceedings. MPP applies to those who arrive from Mexico by land.
The number of refugees admitted to the United States has also fluctuated. President dropped the number from 85,000 to 15,000. In 2022, we intend to increase that number to 125,000. The biggest hurdle to reaching this level is the pandemic. The most significant factor is the degree to which the virus will impact our policies.
Despite some negative policies remaining in place, there are still solutions for overcoming them. For instance, Title 42 continues. Title 42 allows for the removal by the U.S. government of people who have recently been in a country where a communicable disease (Covid-19 virus) was present. However, this directive was given to the Department of Homeland Security to exercise prosecutorial discretion to certain immigration court cases—something an attorney could assist you with as they could with the MPP.
What These Changes Mean For You
Anyone in the immigration process likely wants to know what the current political climate means for them. Consider this: The time to act is now. The immigration climate is more favorable now than it has been. There is no guarantee that this administration will continue for another four years—nor does it offer assurance that the future will be better than it is at the moment.
Rotella & Hernadez
Take action by contacting an immigration attorney. If you are a noncitizen who wishes to become a legal permanent resident of this country, speak to an attorney. Don’t wait for policies to shift in a potentially negative way. Choose an advocate and begin the process. Contact Rotella & Hernandez at (305) 596-3618 to schedule a consultation and speak with an attorney about your immigration needs.