This Issue: Biden taps the brakes on immigration orders

Fri, Jan. 29^th

Pres. Joe Biden's sprint to undo most of Donald Trump's immigration policies slowed to a jog this week.

Prior to Inauguration Day, Biden announced that he'd send immigration legislation to Congress on "day one" and that he'd sign four major immigration actions today, January 29.

But 10 days in, his immigration bill has yet to be introduced and the Administration has delayed the planned executive orders.

On Biden's bill, the proposal was met with immediate resistance from a number of Republican Senators and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy. Not to mention, the second ranking Democrat in the Senate, Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), said that he thought the Senate should start with the Dream Act, instead of a comprehensive bill. But it also became more clear to Administration officials this week that they would not be able to get the 10 Republican Senators needed to break a filibuster, and it may not have the votes in the House.

As for the planned executive orders, Administration officials are brushing it off, saying it's tied to the Senate confirmation of DHS nominee Alejandro Mayorkas. (More on Mayorkas' nomination below.)

Pres. Biden had planned to sign orders today that would:

begin the process for establishing centers throughout Central America for claiming asylum in an attempt to reduce the number of migrants arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border;
increase the Refugee admission cap;
create a task force for reuniting children who are still separated from their parents or legal guardians, although many of those parents or legal guardians have been contacted but have yet to claim their children; and
begin the process of rescinding Trump's public charge rule.

MAYORKAS NOMINATION VOTE SET FOR MONDAY

The Senate overcame a Republican-led filibuster last night on Pres. Biden's nomination of former Obama official Alejandro Mayorkas to lead the Department of Homeland Security. A final vote on his confirmation is scheduled for Monday night.

We posted a phone note on your Action Board to call your two U.S. Senators and urge them to oppose the nomination of Mayorkas.

Under Pres. Obama, Mayorkas first directed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services where he implemented the Administration's illegal DACA executive amnesty. Mayorkas was then promoted to Deputy Secretary at DHS where he was accused by the Inspector General of using his authority to overturn previously declined EB-5 visa applications on behalf of senior members of the Democratic Party.

Five Republican Senators sided with the Democrats to break the filibuster, including Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Rob Portman of Ohio, and Mitt Romney of Utah. Under Senate rules, only a simple majority is needed to break a filibuster on nominations. No Democrats opposed Mayorkas' nomination despite his checkered past.

Please continue to call your Senators and urge them to oppose Alejandro Mayorkas for DHS Secretary.

Chris Chmielenski
NumbersUSA Deputy Director

Washington Times: Rosemary commented ICE changing terms used for illegal aliens:

ICE veterans called the changes stunning and Rosemary Jenks, vice president at NumbersUSA, which advocates for stricter immigration limits, said it suggested misplaced priorities.

"I would think HSI would have more important things to do than this absurd effort to remove legal language from their vocabulary," she said. "Last I checked, we still have far too many dangerous criminal aliens, sex traffickers, smugglers and other threats to public safety and national security operating in the United States for HSI to be focused on becoming more woke."

ANALYSIS: The Judicial Takeover of Immigration Law Saga Continues

Fri, Jan. 29^th

On Tuesday Judge Tipton in the Southern District of Texas issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the Biden Administration's 100 day deportation freeze. One of the reasons provided in justification of this TRO was that Biden's administration acted in an arbitrary and capricious fashion.

Biden Closes Office Tasked with Protecting Job Rights of U.S. Graduates

Wed, Jan. 27^th

The Biden administration is eliminating an office created to protect millions of American graduates from government-fueled corporate discrimination in hiring, pay, and workplace rights.

Judge Temporarily Blocks Biden Deportation Freeze

Wed, Jan. 27^th

In Texas, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order on President Biden's executive order to halt deportations for 100 days, blocking the deportation pause for just 14 days after Texas Attorney Gen. Ken Paxton challenged the rule in court.

Rep. Yvette Herrell Introduces Protecting Americans from Unnecessary Spread upon Entry (PAUSE) Act of 2021

Tue, Jan. 26^th

Congresswoman Yvette Herrell (NM-02) introduced the "Protecting Americans from Unnecessary Spread upon Entry (PAUSE) Act of 2021". The legislation is the Congresswoman's first bill, and if passed, would prevent the introduction of new COVID-19 cases from the United States' land and sea borders with Canada and Mexico.

Politico: Biden Open to Piece by Piece Immigration Deal

Tue, Jan. 26^th

Multiple sources close to the Biden administration recently stated that they expect the White House to let Congress take the lead on forging immigration reform -- even if that means breaking up the ambitious agenda to achieve their goal in piecemeal fashion.