Biden and the Senate are contemplating significant limitations on borders, reflecting a major change in political stance on immigration.
President Biden, who has been in office for less than two weeks, has already made significant changes to U.S. immigration policy. These changes include stopping border wall construction, implementing a deportation pause, and suspending the rule that requires migrants to wait for their court dates in Mexico. This was done through an executive order from the President.
In a February 2021 order, Mr. Biden pledged to improve the U.S. asylum system and reject the border policies of the previous administration that went against our values and resulted in unnecessary human suffering.
After nearly three years in office, Mr. Biden is currently facing the following situation:
entertaining drastic and permanent restrictions
To convince Republican lawmakers to provide more military assistance to Ukraine, the government is using a special power that was initially used by former President Donald Trump to quickly deport immigrants during periods of increased illegal border crossings. This includes using the authority for asylum cases.
According to a recent CBS News survey, immigration and the border are considered the second most significant concerns for the nation. This ranks just below worries about inflation and above concerns about the future of American democracy.
The White House has acknowledged that it will need to make concessions on its stance regarding immigration policy. According to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, the president has emphasized the importance of finding a compromise that is supported by both parties in order to address this issue.
Senate immigration talks
The Senate is pleased with the administration’s increased involvement in discussions and their willingness to consider major changes to border policies. Republican negotiators have reported significant advancements in the negotiations over the past 48 hours. The senators are working towards a consensus on an emergency funding plan of approximately $100 billion, which includes significant foreign aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.
However, the discussions have also caused divisions within the Democratic party. Some progressives are worried that Mr. Biden is willing to make significant compromises with Republicans, without securing any of the longstanding Democratic goals on immigration, such as providing legal status to “Dreamers” and other undocumented individuals.
Andrea Flores, a former member of the Biden White House’s immigration team, stated to CBS News that the party has disregarded their own proposed measures for border security and instead turned to Trump’s ideas. She believes that the administration should reject those who are promoting this flawed approach in both policy and politics.
According to Representative Joaquin Castro, a Democrat from Texas, it would be a grave error for the Democratic party to agree to President Donald Trump’s policies that target immigrants. Additionally, Castro expressed his concern to CBS News that linking immigration policies with foreign aid funding would establish a hazardous precedent.
14 counts of corruption he was indicted on.
Latino Democrats in the Senate have been caught off guard by the ongoing negotiations, despite their increasing representation in recent years. However, due to a lack of seniority among their members, they do not have the authority to lead discussions on budget, appropriations, or homeland security issues. While Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey holds the longest tenure in Congress among Latino Democrats, he is currently not welcome at the White House due to his indictment on 14 counts of corruption.federal bribery charges he’s facing.
This week, he did not hold back. On Wednesday, he stated, “None of the members of the House or Senate Congressional Hispanic Caucus are present for these discussions,” and later added, “This is a blatant disrespect to all the Latino communities we represent.”
Senator Alex Padilla, a member of the Democratic party from California, stated that reverting back to the immigration policies of the Trump administration will only exacerbate the issue. He believes that implementing practices such as mass detention, dismantling the asylum system, and intensifying Title 42 is unacceptable and will not effectively address the problems in the immigration system.
In response to the negative feedback from Latino legislators on Thursday, Jean-Pierre reassured journalists that the White House had provided them with necessary information. She stated, “We have taken note of their concerns and have engaged in discussions with them. We have maintained regular communication.”
However, Representative Nanette Barragán, a Democratic representative from California and the leader of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, refuted this idea. She informed CBS News on Thursday that she had received a call earlier in the week from a high-ranking official from the White House, but she chose not to reveal their name.
According to Barragán, there was no briefing given and the majority of the conversation was spent listening rather than consulting on the offers that were reported. He also stated that CHC and the senators have been excluded from any discussions.
Cecilia Muñoz, a former immigration advisor to President Barack Obama, contends that the Biden administration is seeking the most effective means to address both the protection of individuals seeking refuge from harm and the maintenance of an organized border process.
Muñoz disagreed with the idea that the border authorities requested by Mr. Biden would be utilized in the same manner as they were under Trump’s administration.
Muñoz stated that it is clear that a potential Trump presidency would utilize all available resources, potentially even using illegal methods, in ways that are harmful and lacking in compassion. However, she clarified that there should be no doubt about how President Biden would approach these powers in a different manner.
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Source: cbsnews.com