Biden's Immigration Reform to Begin with DHS Policy Change
Since day 1 of his presidency, Joe Biden has been making efforts to reform the immigration system of the US. As promised, the president is making changes to government policy by amending and undoing the restrictive immigration practices established by the former president Donald Trump which also include the "Muslim Ban". As per a report by The New York Times, a blueprint, titled “DHS Plan to Restore Trust in Our Legal Immigration System” has been proposed by the administration. It is currently only in its drafting stages and will go through several versions before finalization. However, it is important to note that the drafting process is under the full control of the executive, and therefore does not require congressional approval from the House or Senate. Therefore, the President will have full power to influence a number of important administrative changes to the US immigration system.
The blueprint has been divided into seven sections offering detailed policy proposals to increase the levels of migration to the US. The president aims to rebuild and expand legal immigration by cutting processing times, costs, security hoops; and backlogs. In addition, the blueprint aims to fix the H-1B visa program which allows US companies to hire foreign employees, by reducing the number of restrictions and conditions imposed on applicants through DHS agencies. Biden's plan also aims to expand immigration opportunities for LGBTQ refugees from countries where they are persecuted or where same-sex marriages are not recognized.
According to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, more than 300,000 applicants are currently in line for various immigration benefits; but Immigration Voice, an advocacy group, says the number could be as high as 1.5 million. Due to Trump's immigration policies, the average approval time for employer-sponsored green cards has doubled and the backlog for citizenship applications is up by 80% since 2014.
According to research, legal immigration to the United States has benefits for the country’s economy, especially at a time when the country’s population growth has slowed. Biden wants to restore opportunities for foreign employees through the existing H-1B visa program and he also intends to create new pathways for foreign entrepreneurs who wish to start-up businesses and create jobs for U.S. workers. While surveys show that most Americans support increased immigration, many Republican voters have eagerly backed Trump’s more restrictive policies.
It remains to be seen how and when new policy changes will come into force. However, the uncovering of this “blueprint” is a good sign for the future of all immigrants, foreign workers and business people who may seek entry or status in the US in the near future.