This Issue: Biden backtracks on Refugee admissions and using reconciliation to pass Amnesty

Fri, Apr. 23^th

It's been a week filled with backtracking for Pres. Biden.

First, shortly after I sent you last week's newsletter, the Biden Administration announced that it was maintaining Trump's refugee levels of 15,000 for the current fiscal year. In doing so, the Biden Administration unintentionally called the ongoing border surge what it really is ... a "crisis".

Officials said the decision to maintain Trump's refugee level was due to Health and Human Services (HHS) being overwhelmed by the flood of unaccompanied alien children (UAC) crossing the border illegally. HHS is tasked with resettling both refugees and UACs and has come under some heat for taking more time than allowed under law to process the record number of UACs entering the country illegally.

The initial announcement was a pleasant surprise considering that as a candidate Biden pledged to increase refugee levels to 125,000 per year. But it was too good to be true. After a few hours of public pressure from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the Biden Administration said that it would announce an increase to 62,500 in May.

Second, after a White House meeting on Tuesday with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, it was widely reported that Pres. Biden was open to adding an amnesty for illegal aliens to his infrastructure package. Biden and Democratic Leaders are looking to pass the package through budget reconciliation, which allows a bill to pass in the Senate with only 51 votes rather than the 60 votes that are required to pass most legislation.

But White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki backtracked on those reports on Wednesday, saying that Biden wants bipartisan support on any immigration legislation.

According to Breitbart:

"I guess I can articulate what the president's point of view is and certainly what his intention of conveying in a private meeting was, which is that he believes there should be bipartisan support," Psaki said.

She added that the "conversation" on immigration reform "should not be focused on reconciliation."

Of course, Pres. Biden could once again cave to pressure from pro-amnesty activists, and he hasn't clearly stated if he would sign a budget reconciliation bill that includes an amnesty. We'll continue to follow the process and send you updates as they become available.

HOUSE PASSES TWO IMMIGRATION BILLS ALONG PARTY LINES

The House of Representatives approved two immigration bills this week -- the No BAN Act and the Access to Counsel Act. Both bills passed along party lines with all Democrats supporting both measures, and all Republicans, but one, opposing both measures.

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) was the lone Republican to vote for either bill, voting YES on the No BAN Act.

The No BAN Act is a response to Pres. Trump's travel ban that blocked immigration from terrorist-sponsoring nations. The bill makes it more difficult for a President to restrict immigration for classes of people should it serve the national interest.

The Access to Counsel Act requires that anyone referred for secondary inspection at a port of entry, including airports, has access to an attorney. The bill could dramatically slow down traffic at all ports of entry, including for U.S. citizens and legal immigrants. 10.2 million individuals were referred for secondary inspection in 2019.

CHRIS Chmielenski
NumbersUSA Deputy Director

EARTH DAY VIDEO

In celebration of this week's 51st Earth Day, our Sustainability Initiative freshened up a video of Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson discussing the relationship between mass immigration and U.S. population growth and the impact on natural habitat.

For more Earth Day coverage, read Roy's blog.

Watch the Video!

BORDER-AMNESTY VIDEO

Our new online ad urges Americans to call their U.S. Senators and to tell them to oppose the House-passed Farmworker Amnesty bill, H.R. 1603.

Click on the image or the blue button to watch the video!

Watch the Ad!

SUPPORT FOR MAINTAINING FARMLAND & HABITAT GROWING: See the orange line of voter support soaring since December. (And the green line of opposition dropping.) For nearly 70 weeks, Rasmussen Reports has polled on the question of "should immigration-driven population growth be reduced to limit the expansion of cities into wildlife habitats/farmland?"

Support for maintaining open space has enjoyed a plurality, but is now approaching a clear majority support.

In the latest polling, the split of ALL LIKELY VOTERS is:

47% Support
26% Oppose

Young adults and Conservatives provide the strongest support for preserving open space.

% Support vs. % Opposed

51%-28% Age 18-39
50%-24% Age 40-64

52%-25% Conservatives

Real Clear Policy oped: 'Meeting Earth Day's Promise Means Reducing Immigration'

ROY BECK

Thu, Apr. 22^nd

NumbersUSA's two-decade focus on the relationship between immigration policy and the destruction of natural habitat received a nice national spotlight on this 51st Earth Day.

DHS to Make an Extra 22,000 Seasonal Visas Available by Summer

Wed, Apr. 21^st

The Biden administration is expected to make an additional 22,000 seasonal guest worker visas available to foreign nationals before this summer

House Passes H.R. 1333, the No BAN Act, and H.R. 1573, the Access to Counsel Act.

Thu, Apr. 22^nd

The House of Representatives has voted on and passed two immigration bills: H.R. 1333, the No BAN Act, and H.R. 1573, the Access to Counsel Act.

Biden Flip-Flops on Refugee Number After Backlash

Mon, Apr. 19^th

President Biden finally called the problematic situation at the southern border what it is - a crisis. The sudden change came during an impromptu meeting between the President and reporters in Delaware, where Biden also attempted to defend his Friday flip-flop on refugee admissions.

22 Democrats Sign Letter Pushing for Amnesty for 5 Million Illegal Aliens

Fri, Apr. 16^th

Nearly two dozen Congressional Democrats are turning up the pressure on Pres. Biden to include an amnesty for millions of illegal aliens as part of his massive infrastructure and jobs proposal.