Biden suspends removals and halts the “Remain in Mexico” program

Biden suspends removals and halts the “Remain in Mexico” program

Do you need help with your immigration process? Call us today at (619) 746-8879

Joseph Biden’s administration decided to waste no time after being inaugurated on January 20 to take two significant steps regarding Trump’s immigration policies. Starting Thursday, January 21, removals have been paused for certain noncitizens in the United States for 100 days.

According to information from NRP, another measure taken during Biden’s first day in office was the halt of new enrollments in the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) policy, also known as the “Remain in Mexico” program.

The end of “Remain in Mexico”

This was a policy dictated by Trump’s administration, which required asylum-seekers trying to enter the US from the southern border to wait in Mexico for their court hearings. It is one of the immigration policies that Biden’s administration has already suspended.

“The program has led to roughly 60,000 migrants getting sent back across the border since MPP was first implemented in January 2019. Tens of thousands of people are still stuck in Mexico, awaiting their court hearings, and living in unsanitary and potentially dangerous situations. The policy has placed enormous strain on Mexico, even more so during the COVID-19 pandemic”, NRP explained.

However, the end of this program and the notion that Biden’s administration will be more flexible with immigrants have caused thousands of migrants from Latin America to start making their way to the border in hopes that they will be able to enter the United States. This will result in more stress on Mexico and the US immigration system.

“Guillermo Díaz, Guatemala’s top immigration official, said at least 7,000 to 8,000 Hondurans had crossed into Guatemala in an ‘irregular’ manner”, the article said.

New immigration bill

Biden also sent a new immigration bill to Congress on Wednesday, January 20, proposing changes. One of those is that immigrants outside of the US will not be eligible for legal status. People who are still awaiting their court hearings in Mexico and migrants currently on their way from Honduras and Guatemala are likely to be affected by this measure if it gets approved.

Adding to that, Reuters wrote that passing this bill will be a “Herculean task,” according to the Democratic senator leading the charge, Robert Menendez. In a video call with business groups, labor unions, and migrant advocates, he said that the government would need to convince many Americans to support the measure.

This bill is part of Biden’s efforts to reverse former President Trump’s hardline immigration legacy. “In addition to the legalization measures for qualifying immigrants, the proposed bill would allow certain immigrants who were deported during the Trump administration to apply to return to reunite with family or for other humanitarian reasons,” Reuters wrote. 

In summary, Biden’s bill will have three overarching pillars: Provisions to address the causes of migration, border management, and a path to citizenship.

“The Biden-Harris administration is going to be strong partners in helping undo a lot of the Trump administration’s cruel and divisive immigration policy over the last four years,” said Menendez to the Washington Post.

Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’s immigration plan will put millions of qualifying immigrants in temporary status for five years and then grant them a Green Card once they meet specific established requirements. Some of them are a background check and tax payments. They would be able to apply for citizenship years later.

“To qualify, immigrants must have been in the United States as of January 1, a move meant to blunt any rush to the border”, The Washington Post explained.

What will happen to DREAMERS?

The beneficiaries of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), also referred to as DREAMERS, could immediately apply for a Green Card. The information was given to The Washington Post by transition officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly on the subject.

At Kannan Law, we can guide you through your immigration process and answer all of your questions. If you need advice on your status in the United States, please contact us today!