B Stands for Biden

Good afternoon,

One year ago today, on January 20, 2021, the Biden Administration began and with it came high hopes that we would begin seeing positive changes in immigration policies after a presidential term in which action after action was taken to diminish rights and opportunities for immigrants and refugees. Reflecting on the first year of Biden’s presidency, there have been positive achievements but also challenges and setbacks that need to be addressed. 

There were several actions taken on immigration this past year that we celebrate. Biden put together a Family Reunification Task Force that reunited 63 families (as of December) with movement to resettle 221 more and restored access to protection for unaccompanied children and other more vulnerable migrants. The President also increased the refugee ceiling to 125,000 for 2022 and began the process to rebuild the refugee resettlement system after the Trump Administration drastically cut resources and set low admission targets. In response to the crisis in Afghanistan, the Biden Administration evacuated more than 100,000 vulnerable Afghans and resettled 75,000 evacuees in welcoming communities across the U.S.

These actions, while moving toward progress, come alongside challenges that the administration must address more productively. While some vulnerable migrants crossing our southern border have access to protection, many are being turned back to dangerous situations under Migrant Protection Protocols or Title 42, and there is still the struggle to adequately care for unaccompanied children awaiting placement with sponsors.

The refugee ceiling of 125,000 may be the highest target since 1993, but the Biden Administration resettled a record low number of refugees for the 2021 fiscal year, and seems to be nowhere close to reaching its goal for 2022. And while thousands of Afghans have been resettled in the U.S., there is no path for them to acquire permanent status, leaving them in limbo. 

Despite the setbacks, President Biden still has time to meet these challenges and work towards a more just and compassionate immigration system. My colleagues at the National Immigration Forum wrote a paper detailing the administration’s treatment of vulnerable migrants, which goes deeper into the details of areas of progress and challenges as well as solutions for how the administration can move forward after this first year in office. I encourage you to check it out to learn more!

As we know, there’s always more to be done on behalf of our immigrant community. I hope you’ll continue to join me in pushing for just, compassionate and strategic immigration policies that benefit us all.

Stay healthy and hopeful,

Adam

P.S. Please join us to continue this conversation tomorrow, Friday, January 21 at 1pm ET when the Forum teams up with Refugee Council USA for a Facebook Live to discuss the Biden Administration’s work regarding immigration this past year. Click here to RSVP.

Adam Estle
Vice President of Field and Constituencies
National Immigration Forum 

NEWS CLIPS TO NOTE:

WASHINGTON POST: Administration tells court that separated migrant families aren't entitled to compensation

VOX: Biden’s immigration policies have left Haitians stranded in Mexico

AXIOS: America's labor shortage is bigger than the pandemic

MEDIUM: Fighting for American Democracy Includes Fighting for a Pro-Immigrant America

PBS NEWS HOUR: Documentary provides inside look at COVID-19 conditions in immigrant detention