Biden Begins Term with Introduction of New Immigration Policy
President Joe Biden began to overhaul the immigration policies of the Trump administration on his first day in office by introducing a plan for far reaching legislation that would allow people who entered the country illegally a path to apply for permanent legal residency. Currently, there are temporary programs in place to shield people who entered the country illegally from deportation, but President Biden’s plan would create more solidified pathways for these immigrants.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called immigration reform “one of the most important things a Democratic Congress can do.”
The Biden administration plans to grant temporary legal status to many of the people who immigrated illegally that are living in the United States, an estimated 11 million people. After this, they will be able to apply for a green card after paying taxes, a background check, and a few other requirements. Three years after this, they would be able to apply for a citizenship.
Alejandro Mayorkas, President Biden’s pick for Secretary of Homeland Security, pledged to follow immigration law during his confirmation hearing while acknowledging that “overnight changes” are unlikely. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) said he would block a swift confirmation vote on Mayorkas because he does not agree with the proposed immigration policy changes.
Senator Hawley said, “Mr. Mayorkas has not adequately explained how he will enforce federal law and secure the southern border given President-elect Biden’s promise to roll back major enforcement and security measures.” Immigration policy has been a large point of contention between Republicans and Democrats for several years, with a failed bipartisan move to provide a 13-year pathway to citizenship for people living in the country without legal permission in 2013.
During his confirmation hearing before Congress, Mr. Mayorkas was heavily questioned about his approach to immigration policy. Mayorkas would be the first Latino and first immigrant Secretary of Homeland Security.
Congress has an interest in the next Secretary of Homeland Security that was magnified by the Capitol siege that occurred on January 6th, 2021. Mayorkas said during the hearing, “I will do everything I can to ensure that the tragic loss of life, the assault on law enforcement, the desecration of the building that stands as one of the three pillars of our democracy, and the terror felt by you, your colleagues, staff and everyone present, will not happen again.”
Mayorkas served in the Obama administration as a deputy secretary for Homeland Security. When asked by Senator James Lankford (R-OK) whether Mayorkas would dismantle the border wall, he did not give a clear response and said he needed to study the issue further. Mayorkas did say he was opposed to dismantling immigration law enforcement agencies like Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).