5 JAN 2023

Immigration Hub Responds to President Biden’s New Plans to Manage Migration and the Border

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Biden administration announced a plan to expand legal migration pathways for individuals from Cuba, Nicaragua and Haiti while also expanding Border Patrol’s ability to expel asylum seekers.  

Sergio Gonzales, Executive Director of the Immigration Hub, issued the following statement:

“The Biden administration’s ability to manage the southern border has been hamstrung throughout the last two years by Republican obstruction and the courts. Left with limited choices on how to address the border, today, President Biden announced the creation of new legal pathways that would allow individuals from Haiti, Cuba and Nicaragua to apply for parole and arrive in the U.S. by air while expelling those who arrive at the border.  

“We are greatly disappointed by the announcement that the administration is moving forward with a ‘transit ban’ that would dramatically limit the legal rights of asylum seekers to seek protection at the southern border. Similarly, we are opposed to any expansion of the use of Title 42, a public health authority that has been misused for border enforcement from its inception.

“We support the Biden administration’s work with leaders of the Western Hemisphere, NGOs on the ground and efforts to strengthen our border infrastructure and address forced migration in the region. However, we urge President Biden to steer clear of policies like the transit ban that undermine our values and the administration’s stated goal to build a more fair, humane, and orderly immigration system.   

“While an ample number of individuals can apply for the new parole programs and we applaud the use of any and all authority to allow more people to lawfully come to the U.S., we need a comprehensive approach to immigration and border policy in the United States. This is the function of Congress. Our congressional leaders must enact solutions that can properly fund border security while creating a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, farmworkers, Temporary Protected Status holders and asylum seekers. 

“It’s time for Republicans to stop their anti-immigrant political crusade, and start doing what over 70% of Americans want: getting to work on real solutions to fix our broken immigration system. Republican leadership refused to engage in negotiations with Senators Sinema and Tillis who hoped to push forward a bipartisan plan last Congress to enact protections for Dreamers coupled with increased border security. Instead of demagoguing the issue, Republicans should come to the table and work with Congressional Democrats and President Biden to seriously tackle immigration.”

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The Immigration Hub is a national organization dedicated to advancing fair and just immigration policies through strategic leadership, innovative communications strategies, legislative advocacy and collaborative partnerships.