In this so-called peaceful world, armed conflicts, violence, discrimination, political, social, ethnic, or religious victimization have compelled millions of people to flee their home countries. An equal number have also left their countries to escape the economic crunch and dilapidated living conditions. In total, a record 80 million people are away from their homes for one or other reasons.
According to the UNHCR, the US received the largest number of new asylum applications in the pre-Covid-19 era. In 2019, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) received and completed more than 100,000 new credible fear cases, a record high since the credible fear process was introduced more than 20 years ago, and an increase of more than 113 percent since 2015.
However, these refugees and migrants faced strong opposition from the Trump-led US government. The former president issued such rulings that only attempted to violate the US Constitutional provisions, but also violated three international treaties that the US had signed: the 1967 Refugee Protocol, the Convention Against Torture, and the Geneva Convention.
Biden’s Pro-refugees Policies
The present US government has taken friendly measures to address the daunting issues of migration. For instance, Biden formed a task force on the Reunification of Families and issued executive orders on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), to repudiate Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda.
Raising Refugee Cap
The incumbent US government, from the very first week of its formation, announced to raise the cap on refugees from 15000 and 62500 to 125,000.
New Asylum Rules to Expedite Processing
Similarly, the Biden administration announced new rules to reduce the processing time for claims of asylum seekers by allowing the immigration officers at borders to conduct their screenings and judge their claims of persecution or torture. The said move would reportedly reduce the processing time to 90 days, which used to extend for years in case of screening by immigration judges. The development is considered by many an outcome of pressure exerted on the government for easing the Trump-era asylum curbs enforced under Title 42 (restrictions imposed during the Covid-19 era by giving authority of sending back asylum seekers to US border officials without assessing their claims).
Halting Construction of Trump Wall
Also, Biden’s decision of halting the construction of the Mexican border wall is considered by immigration and rights activists as a pro-refugee measure that has made it easy for the asylum seekers to follow their cases. Moreover, it encouraged more migrants to come to the US borders to pursue their right of seeking asylum in the US.
Lifting Travel Ban on Muslims
The former Trump Administration had imposed travel bans on Muslims from Africa and other regions to bar them from entering the US. President Biden lifted such discriminatory bans and asked the US Embassies and consulates operating in those countries to ensure that pending visa and wavier applications may be entertained at the earliest.
Welcoming Afghan and Ukrainian Refugees
After the Taliban entered Kabul and took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, the Biden government, in a bid to address this humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, welcomed about 75,000 Afghans to the US as they were forced to flee their country.
Similarly, when Russia attacked Ukraine in February 2022, President Biden announced plans for the US to accept 100,000 Ukrainian refugees.
Conclusion
The Trump Administration had implemented anti-refugee policies. His cruel policies at the border and raids on migrants and asylum seekers were not only against the US norms but were also violating internationally recognized human rights. The Biden administration has taken tangible steps to change the situation, however much more remains to be done. Prescient Biden has to go beyond issuing executive orders especially to create a comprehensive regional framework to address the root causes of migration.
