Since the election of our new Administration in January 2021, there have been significant government efforts to reform the U.S. Immigration system. The first six months of the Biden Harris Administration have been focused on creating orderly and fair immigration enforcement to provide a better path to citizenship while effectively managing border security. This special edition aims to highlight some of the key pointers found in the Administration’s recently released  Fact Sheet coined The Biden Administration Blueprint for a Fair, Orderly, and Humane  Immigration System.

The Blueprint highlights several main points needed to strengthen the immigration  system: ensuring a secure, humane, and well-managed border, implementing an orderly and fair  processing of asylum applications, strengthening collaborative migration management with  regional partners, investing in Central America to address the root causes of migration. The success in building this immigration system will not be achieved overnight, especially after the last Administration’s irrational policies, but this blueprint lays a clear and tangible roadmap on how to achieve success in building an immigration system that may yield real progress.

Here are some of the details that the blueprint entails:

Ensuring a Secure, Humane, and Well-Managed Border 

  •  Allowing people to exercise their legal right to apply for asylum while also reducing irregular migration and maintaining an orderly, secure, and well-managed border.
  •  Making better use of existing enforcement resources.
  • Improving the expedited removal process for those who arrive at the border. The  Administration is working to improve the expedited removal process at the border to determine which individuals have legitimate claims fairly and efficiently for asylum and other forms of protection.
  • Facilitating secure management of borders in the region by providing training and technical assistance, supporting the improvement of border infrastructure and technology, and promoting collaborative migration and border management approaches.
  • Strengthening anti-smuggling and anti-trafficking operations by working with regional governments to investigate and prosecute individuals involved in migrant smuggling, human trafficking, and other crimes against migrants.
  • Bolstering public messaging on migration by ensuring consistent messages to  discourage irregular migration and promote safe, legal, and orderly migration.

Implementing Orderly and Fair Processing of Asylum Applications.

  • Establishing a dedicated docket to consider asylum claims. The Administration has set up a special immigration court docket to consider the protection claims promptly and fairly of certain recent arrivals.
  • Improving the efficiency and fairness of the U.S. asylum system by authorizing asylum officers to adjudicate asylum claims for those arriving at the border and establishing clear and just eligibility standards that harmonize the U.S. approach with international standards.
  • Maximizing legal representation and legal orientation programs by working  closely with pro bono legal service providers.
  • Reducing immigration court backlogs by ensuring priority cases are considered in a timely manner and hiring more immigration judges.

Strengthening Collaborative Migration Management with Regional Partners.

  • Expanding the U.S. and multilateral efforts to address the dire humanitarian  situation in Central America and strengthen regional collaborative migration  management.
  • Expanding access to temporary work visas in the region.
  • Reducing immigrant visa backlogs.

Investing in Central America to Address the Root Causes of Migration.

  • Addressing economic insecurity and inequality by investing in programs that  foster a business-enabling environment for inclusive economic growth; enhancing  workforce development, health, and education; and building resilience to climate  change and food insecurity so individuals can find an economic opportunity at  home.
  • Combating corruption and strengthening democratic governance by working with  governments, civil society, and independent media to improve government  services, increase transparency, promote accountability and respect for human  rights, etc.
  • Combating sexual, gender-based, and domestic violence by working with governments and civil society to prevent and prosecute violence and support victims.

Immigrants are a key part of our communities and make significant contributions to our economy. Over the past year, millions of immigrants have risked their health to work side by side with other Americans to perform jobs that are essential to the functioning of the country.  For more information regarding Immigration & Naturalization Law, The Law Offices of  Marjory Cajoux is here to answer your immigration-related questions. You can depend on us to stay ahead of immigration developments and keep you informed.