immigration-policy4.48 min read
"Biden Faces Backlash Over New Asylum Restrictions at US-Mexico Border"
1 year ago•Source: Al Jazeera English
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5.775 min•1 year ago
"Biden's New Border Policies Spark Uncertainty and Political Debate"
U.S. border agents have started turning back migrants under President Biden's new asylum restrictions, which aim to reduce illegal crossings by imposing stricter asylum eligibility criteria. The measures will remain until illegal crossings fall below 1,500 per day for a week. The administration is increasing deportations and returning more migrants to Mexico, but challenges remain due to limited detention space and deportation capacity. Critics argue the new rules will disadvantage migrants and create legal backlogs.
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"Canada Introduces Limits on Temporary Worker Inflows, Aims to Reduce Share of Population by 2027"
The Times of India•1 year ago
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"Federal Judge Upholds Biden's Migrant Parole Program, Rejects GOP Lawsuits"
Fox News•1 year ago
More Immigration Policy Stories
"Biden Administration's Alleged Secret Flights of Migrants into US Raise Security Concerns"
Claims that the Biden administration is secretly flying unvetted migrants into the country are unfounded. The administration has exercised its parole authority to admit people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, with U.S. Customs and Border Protection disclosing the number of arrivals from these countries each month. While the program has been criticized for lacking transparency, migrants are vetted for eligibility, and those admitted under parole have no path to citizenship. The administration has granted entry to at least 1 million people using parole, but reports of secretive flights have been refuted as "categorically false" by a White House spokesperson.
"Canada Reinstates Visa Requirements for Mexicans Amid Surging Asylum Claims"
Canada has reinstated visa requirements for Mexican nationals due to a surge in asylum claims, with more than half of the applications being abandoned or rejected. The influx of immigrants has strained the government of Quebec, leading to a record high of asylum claims from Mexico. The move comes after pressure from Quebec, which has seen a significant increase in asylum seekers, and follows a border deal between Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and US President Joe Biden to close a loophole allowing asylum seekers to enter at unofficial points on the Canada-US border.
ICE Considers Mass Release of Detained Migrants to Address Budget Shortfall
After the failure of a Senate border bill that would have erased a $700 million budget shortfall, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is considering mass releases of detainees and slashing detention levels from 38,000 beds to 22,000 to save money. The budget crunch and proposal present a challenge for the Biden administration as illegal crossings at the southern border are expected to spike. House Republicans impeached Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over his border record, and immigration remains President Biden’s worst-rated issue in polls. The proposed border funding bill included new enforcement powers and resources sought by Republicans, but its failure has led to a reversal of traditional partisan politics on immigration.
"Canada Implements Two-Year Cap on International Student Visas"
Canada's Immigration Minister has announced a two-year cap on international student admissions, aiming to address what he sees as an exploitative system of high international student tuition and subpar education. This measure will result in a 35% reduction in new study visas this year, with specific provinces facing even steeper reductions. Additionally, the government will prohibit postgraduate work permits for students in institutions employing a private-public model, and open work permits will be exclusively accessible to spouses of students enrolled in certain programs. The move comes amid increased focus on immigration due to the housing crisis, with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre advocating for aligning immigration numbers with housing stock and available jobs.
Government's U-turn on family visa salary threshold sparks chaos and criticism
The UK government has announced a series of measures to curb immigration abuse and reduce net migration. These measures include stopping overseas care workers from bringing dependants, increasing the minimum earnings threshold for Skilled Worker visas, exempting healthcare workers and education workers from the salary threshold, reforming the Shortage Occupation List, raising the minimum income requirement for family visas, and reviewing the Graduate route. Transitional provisions will be announced next year, and the current thresholds and policies will remain in place until the Immigration Rules are amended.
"US Immigration Policy: Potential Changes, Asylum Reactions, and Border Security Compromises"
Congress is discussing changes to the US immigration system in exchange for providing funding to Ukraine and Israel. President Joe Biden is willing to make compromises on border policy to meet Republican demands. Some proposed changes include tightening asylum standards, restricting the use of humanitarian parole, and expanding expedited removal. Republicans argue that these changes are necessary to address the security threat posed by record numbers of migrants crossing the southern border. However, immigration advocates argue that these changes would harm vulnerable individuals and not effectively address the border situation.
UK Interior Minister Signs New Rwanda Treaty to Revamp Asylum Plan
The UK has signed a new treaty with Rwanda in an attempt to revive its plan to deport asylum seekers to the country, after the Supreme Court ruled the previous plan unlawful. The treaty addresses concerns raised by the court, including assurances that Rwanda will not remove anyone transferred under the partnership if their life or freedom would be threatened. However, lawyers and charities believe the plan is likely to fail and deportation flights may not start before the next election. The opposition Labour Party plans to abandon the Rwanda policy if it wins. The UK government is under pressure to cut net migration and deter illegal crossings.
"UK's Immigration Reforms: A Last Stand for the Conservative Party"
The UK government plans to cut immigration by implementing new measures that will make it more difficult for companies to hire workers. Starting next spring, individuals hoping to obtain a work visa will need to earn at least £38,700 per year, up from £26,200. Visa exemptions for sectors facing labor shortages will be reviewed, and rules on bringing in foreign spouses and dependents will be tightened. The government's aim is to reduce net migration by 300,000 people. However, these measures have faced criticism from businesses, as they fear it will exacerbate recruitment difficulties and create regional disparities. The changes may also hinder the recruitment of health and social care workers, despite exemptions for these sectors.
UK Implements New Measures to Reduce Legal Immigration
The UK government has announced changes to visa requirements aimed at reducing net migration. Starting next spring, the minimum salary for a skilled worker visa will increase to £38,700 per year, with exemptions for health and care workers and those on national pay scales. The minimum income requirement for family visas will also rise to £38,700 per year, impacting lower-income groups. Overseas care workers will no longer be able to bring their families to the UK. The 20% salary discount for shortage occupation list jobs will be scrapped, and the healthcare surcharge will rise to £1,035. Additionally, the government is reviewing the graduate visa route to prevent abuse of the system.
"UK Government Launches Ambitious Plan to Drastically Reduce Immigration"
The UK government is making a renewed effort to reduce immigration, focusing on both legal and illegal migration. Plans for legal migration, including a potential increase in the minimum visa salary, will be announced on Monday. Meanwhile, a treaty with Rwanda is expected to be signed by the Home Secretary, James Cleverly, with a new law introduced in the Commons on Tuesday. However, there is skepticism within the Home Office about exempting the Rwanda plan from the UK's commitments to the European Convention on Human Rights. The effectiveness of these measures in reducing immigration remains uncertain, with doubts raised by Conservative backbenchers and others.