Biden’s administration keeps pushing to simplify the immigration process. After Biden’s attempt to lift Title 42 was recently blocked, he proposed a plan to ease border overcrowding.
In this plan, The Department of Homeland Security (DHA) would transport migrants from border cities into large interior US cities such as Los Angeles, Albuquerque, Houston and Dallas, among others. Such a move would lessen shelter overcrowding. It would also help migrants access necessary resources more easily.
Currently, immigrants who are allowed to stay in the country are released to private shelters run by non-profits and religious organizations. From there, the immigrants are responsible for their own travel to other cities. In these cities, they can appear before immigration judges.
Biden’s administration seeks to better conditions for immigrants and unravel the Trump administration’s severe policies. This is no small challenge, especially following Covid19 and the sudden influx of Ukrainian refugees. But this transportation move would be one small step towards the promises Biden has made to better the immigration system.
Nonetheless, the move faces stern opposition from figures such as NY gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino, who feels the DHA is withholding information and encouraging illegal immigration. “ ‘If they’re using federal dollars, tax dollars, bringing them from the southern border into our communities, don’t we have a right to know who’s coming in here? They’re not here legally to begin with.’” (Astorino, as told to the New York Post).
Sources:
https://nypost.com/2022/06/09/biden-admin-to-ship-migrants-from-border-to-us-cities/
https://www.foxnews.com/media/new-york-secret-migrant-flights-astorino-biden
https://www.politico.com/news/2022/05/20/judge-blocks-biden-administration-from-lifting-title-42-border-policy-00034195
Loren Elliott/Reuters
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/16/us/immigrants-mexico-tents.html
