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Politico reports that, despite President Biden's promises to overhaul President Trump's draconian immigration policies and craft a more welcoming immigration system, his policies have yet to catch up to his rhetoric. The president is staring down a lengthy immigration to-do list, including items related to the pandemic, which is compounding one of the country's most contentious and complicated issues. AILA Senior Director of Government Relations Greg Chen said the Biden administration deserves credit for pursuing many of the reforms he had pledged to do during the campaign. But he added, "The jury is still out on whether they are going to be successful in implementing those policies." Find this story and more in AILA's daily immigration news clips.

House Dems introduce bill providing citizenship to Dreamers. On Wednesday, lawmakers formally introduced legislation that would provide a path to citizenship for young people brought to the U.S. as children ahead of House Democrats’ plan to hold an immigration week later this month. The American Dream and Promise Act would allow the young people known as Dreamers, as well as others given temporary status when fleeing unrest in their home country, to apply for citizenship. The legislation provides a path to citizenship for 2.5 million people, including those given TPS, some who came to the U.S. as early as the 1990s. It also would apply to those grated DED, which allows people to remain in the U.S. beyond their initial authorization due to conditions in their home country. Docketwise News, [email protected].

"To secure immigration reform, a bipartisan approach will be necessary. The truth is that Republicans stand to benefit from immigration reform. That’s why, in the past, Republican Senators Marco Rubio and Lindsay Graham have supported immigration reform. Politically, Trump’s heartless approach to immigration enforcement chased Latinos away in droves. Republican candidates in swing states like Arizona, Florida and Texas cannot write off the Latino vote. Moreover, there are eco...nomic gains to be secured through immigration reform, with employers in agriculture, construction and service industries clamoring for immigrant workers. The deal-breaker may be the creation of a path to legalization for undocumented immigrants. Decried as an amnesty by opponents, immigrant rights activists insist on a path to legalization. Realistically, we cannot deport 11 million undocumented immigrants. As President George W. Bush observed, such a massive removal campaign would cost billions of dollars, destroy communities and devastate the economy. A pathway to legalization will undoubtedly require considerable discussion and debate. Put simply, Biden set the table for immigration reform on day one of his presidency. Still, an incredible amount of work must be done. As Californians, we will be directly affected by immigration reform and should not stand on the sidelines." See more

Do immigrants attend their court hearings? Contrary to claims by the Trump administration that most immigrants fail to appear in immigration court, the federal government’s own data reveals that 83% of all nondetained immigrants with completed or pending removal cases from 2008 through 2018 attended all of their court hearings. For nondetained immigrants with an attorney, that number jumps to an overwhelming 96%. This new special report from the American Immigration Councilwritten in partnership with Ingrid Eagly of the UCLA School of Law and Steven Shafer of the Esperanza Immigrant Rights Projectexamines over a decade of proceedings to find that the government continuously undercounts immigrants’ appearance rates in court.

Texas Federal Trump appointed Judge temporarily blocks Biden's pause on deportations after Texas attorney general challenges freezing deportations. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will have to reverse Trump administration harsh policies lacking discretion on case-to-case basis but which may take some time. I am not surprised the extreme right labels Biden adm. changes to Trump's inhumane immigration policies as 'left insurrection,' all while spewing false rhetoric and inciting right ignorant supporter to kill opposition. Please support non-profit immigration organizations that advocate for immigration reforms and challenge inhumane policies.

100 Day Moratorium on almost all deportations: former President Trump had issued an executive order that eliminated immigration enforcement priorities, placing all undocumented individuals at risk of deportation, including families and long-time residents. Biden’s executive order reverses that policy and directs a Department of Homeland Security-wide review of immigration enforcement. DHS will implement a 100-day moratorium on almost all deportations effective Friday, January 22 and utilize interim enforcement priorities that focus on national security threats, recent border arrivals, and certain other people determined to be a public safety risk. American Immigration Council.

Biden Administration’s First Announcements on Immigration Law: In a series of executive actions on the evening of Jan. 20, 2021, the newly installed Biden administration announced the following significant changes in immigration law and policy. Enforcement Priorities and 100-day Moratorium on Certain Removals: President Biden issued an executive order on the Revision of Civil Immigration Enforcement Policies and Priorities, which rescinds the former administration’s Executi...ve Order 13768 of Jan. 25, 2017. The Executive Order declares that the policy of the Biden Administration is to protect national and border security, address the humanitarian challenges at the southern border, and ensure public health and safety, while also adher[ing] to due process of law as we safeguard the dignity and well-being of all families and communities. The Executive Order directs relevant federal agencies to issue revised guidance that advances this policy. Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Pekoske then issued a memorandum directing DHS component agencies to review enforcement policies and provide recommendations for revised policies within 100 days. The Memorandum sets interim policies for civil enforcement while the Department develops its revised policies, with the following components:. Orders a 100-day pause on the removal of noncitizens, effective by Jan. 22, 2021, except certain categories. Please contact our office or licensed immigration attorney for additional information. By: Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc.

Biden Administration’s First Announcements on Immigration Law In a series of executive actions on the evening of Jan. 20, 2021, the newly installed Biden administration announced the following significant changes in immigration law and policy. Repeal of Muslim and Africa Bans: One of the first of the immigration-related executive actions signed by President Biden was the Proclamation on Ending Discriminatory Bans on Entry to The United States. Characterizing the former admi...nistration’s policy as a stain on our national conscience and are inconsistent with our long history of welcoming people of all faiths and no faith at all, the Proclamation rescinds the Muslim and African Bans in their entirety, effective immediately. Specifically, the Proclamation repeals the following four travel bans issued by the former administration: Executive Order 13780 of March 6, 2017 (Muslim ban & suspension of USRAP) Proclamation 9645 of Sept. 24, 2017 (Travel ban 3.0, added 8 countries) Proclamation 9723 of April 10, 2018 (Modifies bans, removing Chad) Proclamation 9983 of January 31, 2020 (Africa ban or Travel ban 4.0, added 6 countries) ***The Proclamation lifts certain restrictions on immigrant visas for nationals of: Burma, Eritrea, Iran, Venezuela, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Nigeria, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, and Yemen. By Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc.

DHS proposes to limit work permits for aliens with final removal orders. On Tuesday, DHS announced a proposed rule that would limit discretionary work authorization for aliens who have final orders of removal and who have been temporarily released from DHS custody on an order of supervision (OSUP). The rule would align issuance of discretionary employment authorization documents (EADs) with the Trump administration’s priorities to protect U.S. workers and strengthen immigrat...ion enforcement. Under current regulations, an alien who has a final order of removal and who is temporarily released from DHS custody on an OSUP is generally eligible for an EAD. The proposed rule also would limit the validity period of the EAD for aliens released on an OSUP to one year, regardless of whether it is an initial or a renewal employment authorization. Docketwise News See more

USA Today: Biden Immigration Proposal Looks to Roll Back Four Years of Trump's Hardline Policies: USA Today reports that today, the same day he was inaugurated into office, President Biden will introduce immigration legislation that will include an eight-year pathway to citizenship for nearly 11 million immigrants living in the United States without legal status. The bill will also include expanding refugee admissions and an enforcement plan that includes deploying technology... to patrol the border. Democrats in the Senate would need all 50 members to support the bill in order to force a tie with Republicans. Kamala Harris could then break that tie as vice president. In the House, Democrats hold a 222-to-211 majority, so they can afford few defections from their party in order to pass legislation. Find this story and more in AILA's daily immigration news clips. See more

Feds barred for arresting immigrants at Southern California federal courthouses. ICE agents have been barred from arresting immigrants at federal courthouses in the Southern District of California, a practice U.S. District Judge Sana Sabraw found degrades the administration of justice. In 2018, Judge Sabraw granted a temporary restraining order blocking the Trump administration’s policy allowing Border Patrol agents to arrest immigrants at the conclusion of criminal cases. But under the Trump’s increased immigration enforcement, ICE issued a directive to its agents to conduct civil arrests on courthouse premises. Judge Sabraw’s order found this practice deters parties and witnesses from coming to court and instills fear. DHS did not comment. Docketwise News.

Due to recent Fed Court Decision vacating USCIS July 2020 DACA restrictions, USCIS announced on Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, now accepting following applications and that they will be adjudicated based on the terms of the DACA policy in effect prior to its attempted termination on Sept. 5, 2017: Initial or first-time DACA applications (Form I-821D); Renewal DACA applications; and Advance Parole (Form I-131) applications for DACA recipients. Extending the 65,800 one-year gra...nts of deferred action under DACA to two years; and Extending one-year employment authorization documents under DACA to two years. However, those wanting to file should consult with licensed immigration attorney to ensure eligibility as soon as possible because USCIS indicated it may seek relief from the order, so it is possible that this window of eligibility to apply may close. See more

YOU SHOULD ALWAYS CONSULT LICENSED IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY: THIS POLICY SHOULD BE FOUGHT AGAINST BUT IS LAW AND GIVES DANGEROUS DISCREATION: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is updating existing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding the exercise of the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security’s discretion in adjudications of adjustment of status applications. This update clarifies existing content by providing a non-exhaustive list of positive and negative factors that may be relevant to whether an adjustment of status applicant warrants a favorable exercise of discretion. It also lists the privileges, rights and responsibilities of lawful permanent residents (LPRs) as a reference for officers to consider when determining whether the grant of LPR status is in the best interest of the United States.