Reversing Trump Policies and Initial Reforms
Border Wall and National Emergency
One of the first actions President Biden took was to stop the building of the border wall between the U.S. and Mexico. This wall was a major project of the Trump administration. President Biden also ended the national emergency that was declared to get funds for building the wall.
- Stopped border wall construction
- Ended national emergency declared by Trump
For more detailed information, you can read about it on The New York Times.
Travel Ban and DACA Protections
President Biden ended the travel ban that stopped people from several Muslim-majority countries from coming to the U.S. This was another big part of Trump’s immigration policy. In addition, Biden made sure that protections for DACA recipients continue. DACA, which stands for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, helps young people who were brought to the U.S. as children.
- Ended travel ban targeting Muslim-majority countries
- Reaffirmed protections for DACA
Learn more about this topic on BBC News.
Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) and Other Protections
The Biden administration also brought back Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for people from Liberia. This program helps them stay in the U.S. and delays their deportation until June 30, 2022. This was significant as it provided a safety net for Liberians who might have otherwise been sent back to their home country.
- Reinstated Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for Liberians
Read more about DED on the USCIS website.
New Initiatives and Policies
Humanitarian Parole Programs
The Biden administration started new programs to help people from certain countries. These programs are called “humanitarian parole programs.” They allow people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to come to the United States for a short time and work.
- Assistance for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans
- Temporary entry and work permissions
Learn more about humanitarian parole on the USCIS website.
CBP One App and Asylum Appointment Scheduling
The administration launched a new technology tool to help immigrants. It is called the CBP One app. This app allows migrants to schedule their asylum appointments online. As of August 2024, over 813,000 people have used this app to make appointments.
- Online scheduling for asylum appointments
- Over 813,000 users as of August 2024
For more information, visit the CBP One App page.
Border Enforcement Changes
President Biden’s administration introduced new ways to manage the border. They encourage people to come through official entry points by making it easier and safer. At the same time, they made it harder for people who try to cross between these entry points, using stricter rules.
- Encouragement of arrivals at ports of entry
- Stricter enforcement for those crossing between official border points
You can read more about these changes on VOA News.
Enforcement and Deportations
Deportation Numbers and Expedited Removal
The Biden administration has been active in enforcing deportations. By February 2024, over 1.1 million people had been deported since the start of Fiscal Year (FY) 2021. This number is similar to the deportation figures during the Trump administration. In FY 2023 alone, 316,000 migrants were deported via expedited removal, marking it the highest number in any previous fiscal year.
- Over 1.1 million deportations since FY 2021
- 316,000 expedited removals in FY 2023
For more details on these statistics, visit the Pew Research Center.
Title 42 Expulsions and Recent Arrivals Docket
Although President Biden initially promised to end Title 42, a policy that allows the quick expulsion of migrants during public health crises, his administration expanded it. Title 42 was extended to include migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. To balance this, the administration introduced humanitarian parole programs. Additionally, the Recent Arrivals docket was put in place to fast-track immigration cases for migrants who cross between ports of entry.
- Expansion of Title 42 to include more countries
- Introduction of humanitarian parole programs
- Recent Arrivals docket for faster case resolution
You can read more about Title 42 expansions on The New York Times.
Returns vs. Removals and Border Security Measures
For the first time since Fiscal Year 2010, more migrants were returned directly across the border than removed from the U.S. interior. The Biden administration has also invested heavily in border security. This includes deploying more law enforcement personnel, adding advanced infrastructure and technology, and using these resources to manage the high numbers of migrant encounters.
- More direct returns than interior removals since FY 2010
- Record deployment of law enforcement and technology at the border
For further information on these initiatives, visit CBP’s official page.