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Protesters hold up signs during a rally supporting Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, outside the White House on Sept. 5, 2017. Biden has committed to preserving fortifying DACA during his term.

For Northwestern freshman and first-generation citizen Marcos Sanchez, the Biden administrations halt to the construction of the United States-Mexico border wall is representative of a positive shift from the Trump administrations harsh anti-migrant rhetoric.

President Biden halted construction of the $11 billion border wall Jan. 20, one of more than 30 executive orders he has signed since his inauguration aimed at reversing Trump-era policies and reforming other immigration policies.

Its just seeing people and your administration finally facing immigration as more of a humanitarian issue than like a disease, Sanchez said. Its just really comforting.

SESP freshman Freskida Sejdiu, also a first-generation citizen, echoed Sanchezs sentiment and said she is optimistic about his policies. As members of her family are also seeking citizenship, Sejdiu said it is comforting to know that they have a president who wont deport them.

Democrats have been talking about (it) for years, and hes finally the one to get to it, she said.

On his first day in office, Biden signed several other executive orders, including lifted a travel ban restricting people from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. He also overruled Trumps previous order to prioritize deportations of illegal immigrants in America, and has proposed a bill to make the path to citizenship easier for immigrants and members of the DACA community.

Biden also initiated a 100-day moratorium on deportations and halted the Migrant Protection Protocols, also known as the Remain in Mexico order, that has kept thousands from seeking asylum in the U.S.

Students like Sejdiu and Mccormick freshman Kobe Chamba said they are still trying to remain realistic as they wait for more change during Bidens presidency.

Its a pleasant surprise, but Im not 100 percent satisfied, Chamba said.

Political science Prof. Jacqueline Stevens said it will be important to look out for legislation not just executive orders Biden may implement to reform immigration policies in the United States.

These changes, however, will not come easily, she said, citing the Trump administrations efforts to barricade immigration reform efforts..

Theres a whole rulemaking comment process that has to be followed before you can unsnarl that stuff, Stevens said. Its gonna take a lot of bandwidth to just take care of rolling back the policies that Trump put in place, leaving aside actually trying to restart conversations about comprehensive immigration reform.

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Twitter: @KatrinaPham_

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Northwestern community weighs in on what Biden's presidency looks like for the future of immigration reform - Daily Northwestern

A trio of Massachusetts lawmakers refiled a bill on Tuesday that would make it illegal for local court and police officials ask about a persons immigration status, as well as limit cooperation between police and federal immigration agents.

There is no reason that someone who is pulled over by a police officer in a car or interacting in a court has to be asked about their immigration status, said Sen. Jamie Eldridge, an Acton Democrat, who first filed the bill eight years ago.

Eldridge filed the bill, SD. 532, on the Senate side Tuesday morning. Rep. Liz Miranda, a Boston Democrat, and Rep. Ruth Balser, a Newton Democrat, refiled the House version Tuesday morning.

The bill failed to move forward in the Massachusetts Legislature, even as the Trump administration removed priorities for who could be deported and made it difficult for certain foreigners to maintain legal status to stay in the United States.

We know how frightened so many members of our immigrant community feel, so frightened that many wont call a doctor to participate in contact tracing or even now take advantage of the vaccination rollout because of the fear, Balser said, referring to undocumented immigrants who fear going to the doctors office could lead to an encounter with immigration officials.

The bill cleared the Public Safety Committee last session, a first for the proposal, but was never put up for a vote in the Legislature. Balser and Miranda said theyre hopeful the bill will get a vote on the House floor.

Im really hopeful as well that our colleagues will join us because of this moment that were all trying to meet and the consciousness that I think has been raised, particularly in the last six months of the Legislature, Miranda said, noting that more than 90 legislators signed onto the bill last session.

More than 50% of Mirandas district is foreign-born, but immigrants with varying levels of immigration status live across Massachusetts. The Bay State is home to an estimated 250,000 people with temporary or no legal status, ranging from those who are undocumented to those who have protections under Temporary Protected Status or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.

The proposal would prohibit court and police officials from inquiring about someones immigration status unless its required by law. There would be an exception for judges and magistrates if the inquiry is necessary to adjudicate a case.

Under the bill, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents could only be notified of someones release from prison at the end of their sentence. Lawmakers say it would prevent ICE agents from detaining and deporting immigrants accused of crimes before they have their day in court.

The bill would require that federal immigration agents get written consent before interviewing someone in Massachusetts, which would effectively ensure Miranda rights are extended to non-citizens.

It would also bar local agencies from entering into 287(g) agreements with the federal government, a partnership thats come under scrutiny as local officers are effectively deputized as immigration agents.

Four Massachusetts agencies have 287(g) agreements with ICE. The Barnstable County Sheriffs Office, Bristol County Sheriffs Office, Plymouth County Sheriffs Department and the Massachusetts Department of Corrections renewed their contracts with ICE in 2020.

ICE touts the partnership as a way to get violent criminals off the streets. ICE highlighted a Dec. 3 arrest the Plymouth County Sheriffs Office made of an undocumented Dominican man on a charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. But the agency didnt name the suspect, and immigration records are often kept confidential.

Lawmakers say the 287(g) agreements have not made their communities safer as immigration agents have detained and deported immigrants with little to know criminal records.

More than half of the foreign nationals deported from Massachusetts between October 2009 and February 2020 had no criminal conviction, according to data compiled by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University.

Coming into office, President Joe Biden vowed to undo some of the changes the Trump administration made to crack down on illegal immigration and limit legal immigration. He signed an executive order reversing President Donald Trumps order that removed who is prioritized for deportation, among other immigration-related orders halting border wall construction, reversing the travel ban and preserving DACA.

He also introduced an immigration reform package that, among other things, would offer a path to citizenship for certain undocumented immigrants and those with temporary status.

But Bidens proposal does not limit the 287(g) program, Eldridge said. The was created under the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 and led to local-federal partnerships in Massachusetts over the past two decades.

The Biden administration has not yet suggested ending the 287(g) agreements, so that piece is critical, Eldridge said. Harmful immigration practices have existed in Massachusetts through both Democratic and Republican administrations. We cant wait for the federal government or Congress to act.

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Should police be able to ask about your immigration status? Legislators refile bill that would prohibit it - MassLive.com

President-elect Joe Biden plans to immediately introduce a sweeping immigration reform bill during his first days in office. The new legislation, currently being drafted by congressional Democrats and immigrant rights advocates, will include a pathway to citizenship for an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants.

Top Latino and immigrant advocacy groups were struck by the boldness of the coming legislation, saying they were floored by the aggressive agenda.

Bidens plan is the most aggressive agenda that I have seen on immigration reform from day one not only the legislative package but also executive orders, said Hector Sanchez Barba, head of Mi Familia Vota.

Jess Morales Rocketto, executive director of Care in Action, was also impressed: We were totally floored by the immigration plan and the level of clarity.

According to the LA Times, not only does the new aggressive plan give Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) a shorter pathway to citizenship but also is void of any provisions directly linking an expansion of immigration with stepped-up enforcement and security measures.

The bill will also make allowances for immigrants who are front-line essential workers.

I hope the Congress and our nation will recognize that these immigrants stepped up when the United States needed the most and put themselves in danger every day by serving as essential workers during this deadly pandemic, incoming Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) said on Friday.

The expected pushback from Republicans has already begun. Lora Ries, former acting deputy chief of staff at the Department of Homeland Security under Trump, told the Times that the legislation undermines security.

Such rewards will attract more people to illegally enter the U.S. to await their eventual green card, undermining border security, Ries said.

It should be no surprise where the lack of empathy party stands on this issue. Just this week the DOJs inspector general found that former Attorney General Jeff Sessions and high-ranking Justice Department officials were the driving force behind separating migrant families at the U.S.-Mexico border, and they paid little mind to how those families would ever reunite. According to the investigation, Sessions told U.S. attorneys who raised concerns during a conference call, We need to take away children, and, If [undocumented immigrants] care about kids, dont bring them in.

Bidens legislation, if passed, would be the most extensive immigration policy since President Reagans Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 which, according to the Times, granted legal status to 3 million people who were in the country without documentation.

Its worth remembering, however, that former president Barrack Obama tried to pass comprehensive immigration reform during his two terms in office, but both Republicans and the Supreme Court blocked it.So Biden will not have an easy road ahead in Congress, although he will have some power to carry out certain portions of his plan using executive orders.

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Bidens Immigration Reform to Include Pathway to Citizenship for Millions - Rolling Stone

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In the annual State of American Business speech today, U.S. Chamber of Commerce CEO Thomas J. Donohue outlined the path for a widespread economic recovery through a bold agenda of infrastructure investments, workforce reskilling, immigration reforms, and reinvigorating Americas global competitiveness. Additionally, he warned that excessive regulations and anti-competitive taxes would undermine the recovery.

In the face of significant challenges, including a global pandemic and an economic crisis, businesses have adapted to survive, they have served their communities and this country, and they have put forward life-saving, world-changing solutions, Donohue said, speaking before a global audience of as many as 10,000 (registered attendees). The State of American Business is resilient.

Similarly, in the wake of the violence and rioting at the U.S. Capitol building last week, Donohue also stressed the determined leadership of government.

Let me say unequivocallyviolence has no place in our democracy, he said. But our democracy is strong. Our commitment to the rule of law is unwavering. And our government is resilient.

An Uneven Recovery & 10 Million Jobs Lost

Some industries, businesses, and segments of the workforce have thrived, he said, noting the surging stock market, housing prices, and some companies and industries thriving amid the pandemic. But its a very different story for those who have been negatively impacted by the pandemic. Entire industries have been decimated because people arent traveling, gathering, shopping, or going out like they used to.

With 10 million American jobs lost in the last year, and small business disproportionately impacted particularly minority- and women-owned businesses, many of which have closed Donohue urged policymakers to focus on a broad-based economic recovery.

We wont restore the jobs, growth, and prosperity that were lost in 2020 until we eradicate the pandemic and get our economy firing on all cylinders, Donohue said. And for that to happen, our elected officials must pull all the right policy leversand push back against misguided proposalsin 2021.

Donohue stressed that the Chamber will work with the incoming Congress and Biden administration to ensure industries, businesses and workers make it through the end of the pandemic economic crisis. He added that if Congress sufficiently supports the economy with additional relief, economic growth could return to pre-pandemic levels by the third quarter of this year.

This must include all the support necessary to get the vaccines widely distributed and administeredonly then can we truly move past the pandemic, he said.

A Long-Overdue Infrastructure Package

Our lawmakers should enact a fiscally and environmentally responsible infrastructure package that focuses on urgent needs like roads and bridges, modernizes our critical networks, and upgrades and expands technology like broadband, Donohue said, noting that such a package is the one way to raise productivity, create jobs, and drive up incomes in a hurry.

Even in a 50-50 Senate and a House divided by 5 votes, this can be doneand it might build some goodwill for bipartisan progress on other priorities, he said.

Reskilling the American Workforce for the Jobs of Tomorrow

Donohue stated that a broad-based and speedy economic recovery hinges on reskilling workers and fostering inclusive growth.

Our lawmakers should fund rapid training programs to connect the unemployed with jobs in new sectors, he said, stressing the need for employer-led initiatives to lead the way to align industry needs and in-demand skills. Some of the best-paying sectorssuch as health care or financial and professional serviceshave more job openings than available workers. If we do this right and do it quickly, we will improve the living standard for millions of Americans and get our economy growing even faster.

Addressing Racial Inequality and Reforming Immigration Policies

In addition to job reskilling, Donohue stressed that policymakers need to tackle race-based systemic inequality in education, entrepreneurship, and the criminal justice system as outlined in the Chambers Equality of Opportunity Initiative and immigration reforms to ensure the American workforce is highly skilled.

Allowing the worlds most talented and industrious people to contribute to our economy drives growth, which in turn creates more jobs for Americans, he said. We fought vigorously and successfully against actions by the Trump administration to severely limit legal immigration, and we will work cooperatively with the Biden administration to reform our immigration system to meet the needs of our modern economy.Excessive Regulations & Anti-Competitive Taxes

As a new government prepares to take the reins, we must prevent a return to excessive regulation or anti-competitive taxes, Donohue warned, citing the positive effects of regulatory relief and pro-business policies on the economy before the pandemic. Now is exactly the wrong time to further test the resiliency of businesses by hiking taxes or heaping on new regulations that do more harm than good.

If such actions are taken, Donohue said, the Chamber would use every tool at our disposalincluding in the courtsto protect our recovery, our competitiveness, and our economic future from the regulatory overreach.

Americas Long-Term Strength and Competitiveness Requires Global Engagement and Leadership

Finally, Donohue stressed the necessity for America to reengage with the world through a bold trade agenda to drive growth and prosperity. He said: in recent years our resilience has been tested through trade wars and tariffs.

Specifically, Donohue called for the end of the many tariffs enacted in recent years, paid for by American consumers, that have hurt farmers and manufacturers, and to reaffirm American leadership in multilateral organizations like the WTO and WHO.

At the same time, we all know that China is the biggest global challenge our nation faceswe must work to stabilize the relationship through strength and cooperation, Donohue added, noting that we must capitalize on the largest fast-growing market. At the same time we also have to confront the unfair trade and industrial policies that China uses against U.S. companies. We must work with our allies to stand up to China, while also pursuing new negotiations with Beijing to protect our intellectual property.

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U.S. Chamber CEO Urges a 'Rally for Recovery' Through Infrastructure, Immigration Reform, Workforce Reskilling, and Global Competitiveness -...

By Jeremy L. Neufeld

Just days before the 2020 election, the Trump administration proposed a new rule to change how H-1B visas are allocated. The final rule was announced last week and is set to go into effect before the 2022 H-1B lottery. The Biden administration will have many Trump-era immigration rules to reverse. But this rule uniquely is worth supporting after the end of the Trump administration, since it ensures visas go to the best and brightest, reduces risk for H-1B employers, protects native workers, and fulfills one of Bidens campaign promises.

The demand for cap-subject H-1Bs consistently outpaces the 85,000 that are allowed each year. The result is a zero-sum game; one employers approval is necessarily one fewer visa available to other employers. And the lottery-based allocation established under the old rules dictates that virtually all employers are equally likely to win, regardless of their petitions relative merit.

The new rule replaces the random lottery with a wage-based ranking, awarding visas to employers offering the largest salaries. Under wage-based allocation, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services no longer has to be indifferent between a superstar who is a perfect fit for a lucrative niche job and a worker to fill an entry-level position. Instead, USCIS can ensure visas are going to the most valuable workers.

Of course, much of this zero-sum competition is artificially imposed by the low H-1B cap even the less productive H-1B-eligible workers with sponsors would still be of enormous benefit to the United States. But the Department of Homeland Security cant get rid of the cap. It can make sure that in the face of the cap, visas go to the best and brightest of the best and brightest.

In addition to allocating H-1Bs efficiently, wage-based allocation yields three other significant benefits.

First, it protects native workers. Labor market competition between H-1B workers and natives is largely overblown, with H-1B workers earning much more on average than natives of the same level of education. However, there are several disturbing cases where businesses use H-1B workers to replace or undercut natives, even if such cases are quite rare. However uncommon, such cases are bad for the native workers affected and bad for the H-1B programs political prospects. After all, how can lawmakers be persuaded to raise the cap if H-1Bs are already displacing workers?

Naturally, the issue is the lottery system, which often awards visas to the least deserving petitions and incentivizes the proliferation of outsourcing companies and H-1B dependent firms. Assigning visas to the workers who will earn the highest salaries automatically makes cases of abuse financially unviable. Making employers compete for visas by offering better wages is pro-worker and can help recover some of the programs damaged reputation.

Second, wage-based allocation is good for business and reduces a tremendous amount of waste. Under a lottery, businesses face costly uncertainty about whether all the money and time spent trying to secure a visa will pay off. If an employer wins the lottery, their new employee will make the process worth it, but if they lose, the resources are squandered. On top of the waste, the uncertainty and risk deters some businesses from participating at all. Wage-based allocation addresses these issues, giving high-paying employers security and reliability, while providing lower-paying employers the signal they need to know they wont win a visa if they petition for one.

Third, a wage-based allocation generates valuable information to lawmakers about the value of H-1Bs. Each years salary cutoff that is, the lowest salary that still secures a visa sends a much stronger signal about the demand for H-1B labor than does the number of lottery applicants, which can obscure the underlying need for workers by only including employers who are willing to take on the risk inherent in entering the lottery. As demand for labor increases, it might not show up clearly in the number of H-1B applications because the value of an H-1B application decreases as the probability of winning the lottery decreases. Therefore, the number of H-1B applications is a mixed signal about the demand for workers and the risk-aversion of employers that is hard to disentangle. On the other hand, movement in a salary cutoff can more transparently inform lawmakers how to set the cap and assure them that increasing it wont lead to low-wage labor.

As it happens, this policy is included in Bidens immigration plan. An immigration system that crowds out high-skilled workers in favor of only entry level wages and skills threatens American innovation and competitiveness, his plan reads. Then it follows with Bidens proposal to fix it: first reform temporary visas to establish a wage-based allocation process. Granted, Bidens plan indicates that he hoped the change would come from Congress.

Nevertheless, allowing the rule to stand would make sure that talent and resources arent squandered in the next lotteries before Congress has a chance to get to it if it does at all. Meaningful H-1B reform to charge innovation and productivity growth doesnt stop at wage-based allocation, but its a promising start.

Continued here:
Trump's One Immigration Reform That Biden Should Keep - Niskanen Center