B Stands for Better

Good afternoon,

The fight for a compassionate and just immigration system can often feel like an uphill climb. This week, we wanted to take an opportunity to highlight recent, promising development on a few different fronts.

We have heard encouraging reports on the status and treatment of unaccompanied children (UACs) at the southern border. This week, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released data on April border apprehensions, and although there was a slight increase in the total monthly apprehensions, there was a 12% decrease in UAC crossings.

There has also been a decrease in the amount of time children are spending in CBP custody before being transferred into the care of Health and Human Services. While the legal limit is 72 hours, in March, the average child spent 115 hours in CBP facilities. According to April data, children are now spending only 28 hours in CBP custody before being transferred.

In other border-related news, four immigrant families have been reunited by the Family Reunification Task Force, formed by President Biden in February. These parents and children had been separated since 2017 under the previous administration’s "zero tolerance policy" at the border. Now, the parents have been granted humanitarian parole and are allowed to remain in the U.S. with their children. We hope to see this work continue until all of the separated families are reunified.

At the state level, voters in Arizona will decide in 2022 if Dreamers are eligible for in-state college tuition. Thanks to the tireless efforts of local Dreamer-led organizations like Aliento, the Arizona legislature approved (in a bipartisan effort) the inclusion of the ballot measure, which would expand in-state tuition eligibility to anyone who attended at least two years of school and graduated from a high school in the state. Arizona is one of six states currently where undocumented immigrants are excluded from in-state tuition benefits. The Migration Policy Institute estimates that roughly 2,000 undocumented students graduate from high school each year in Arizona. It is beneficial to all Arizonans to allow them the same post-secondary opportunities as their peers.

As we celebrate these small steps forward, it’s also inspiring to remember that we’re not alone in pushing for change. During last week’s event (co-sponsored by the Forum), Immigrants and the American Future, President George W. Bush stressed that immigrants benefit our country and should be welcomed instead of feared, saying:

"We should not fear the erosion of our culture. Immigrants enhance our culture of freedom, freedom of religion, freedom to speak and enthusiasm toward what America represents."

By pushing for better policies for immigrants, we are ensuring that America continues to welcome everyone who strengthens our economy and society while enriching all of our lives.  

Stay healthy and hopeful,

Adam

P.S. If you aren’t already a listener of our podcast "Only in America", now is a great time to start. This week's powerful episode features the work of our friends at We Welcome Refugees and their role in successfully encouraging President Biden to lift the refugee cap. We’re so grateful for the work of Tess Clarke and the WWR team in highlighting the voices of grassroots Christian women who support refugees and immigrants. You won’t regret listening (and subscribing)!

Adam Estle
Vice President of Field and Constituencies
National Immigration Forum 

NEWS CLIPS TO NOTE:

ARIZONA REPUBLIC: Arizona voters to decide in-state tuition eligibility for Dreamers

U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT: ‘Get Back on Offense’: Immigration Advocates Look to Biden’s Next 100 Days

VOX: The census shows the US needs to increase immigration — by a lot

NPR: Why Support For Refugees Is Higher Than You Might Think In Parts Of 'Trump Country'

THE HILL: Harris says Mexico, US can work together to improve quality of life in Northern Triangle

ASSOCIATED PRESS: US drops Trump plan for more biometric data on immigrants