Immigration

Federal judge blocks Biden administration’s deportation moratorium

Published

2 years ago

January 27, 2021

A federal judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked an attempt by President Joe Biden to halt the deportation of many immigrants for a 100-day period.

During his campaign, Biden promised he would make immigration reform a priority and put a stop to deportations for 100 days.

The Biden administration announced the moratorium on the first day in office.

Last week, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against the federal government over the 100-day pause, claiming that the administration would be violating an agreement it has with the Department of Homeland Security, requiring the department to provide notice and allow time for review before making immigration policy changes.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said the state would face irreparable harm if the deportation moratorium went into effect. Moreover, Paxton said it would increase education and healthcare costs as more immigrants remained in Texas illegally.

U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton issued a temporary restraining order, blocking Biden from moving forward with the policy for 14 days.

“The January 20 Memorandum not only fails to consider potential policies more limited in scope and time, but it also fails to provide any concrete, reasonable justification for a 100-day pause on deportations,” Judge Tipton said in the ruling.

Paxton praised the ruling, saying a deportation moratorium would “endanger Texans and undermine federal law.”

The Biden administration is expected to appeal the ruling.

“We’re confident that as the case proceeds, it will be clear that this measure was wholly appropriate in ordering a temporary pause to allow the agency to carefully review its policies, procedures, and enforcement priorities – while allowing for a greater focus on threats to public safety and national security,” a White House spokesman said.

“President Biden remains committed to taking immediate action to reform our immigration system to ensure it’s upholding American values while keeping our communities safe.”

Follow Annaliese Levy on Twitter @AnnalieseLevy

Immigration

Biden Administration to allow 40,000 asylum-seekers per month into US with mobile app

Published

3 days ago

June 6, 2023

Sara Carter Staff

Despite chaos at the border, the Biden administration is still pursuing expansion of a smart phone app which would allow nearly 40,000 asylum-seekers to enter the United States…per month.

“Starting in June, officials will allow more migrants waiting in Mexico to secure an appointment to enter the U.S. through a government phone app known as CBP One, which the Biden administration has transformed into the main gateway to the American asylum system” reports CBS News.

Department of Homeland Security Officials said border agents are preparing to distribute approximately 1,250 appointments per day, or 38,750 per month, to migrants in Mexico. They will then present themselves at ports of entry.

CBS News reports:

The CBP One app allows migrants north of Mexico City to request an appointment to appear at a southern border port of entry, where U.S. officials generally release them with an immigration court hearing in their respective destination. Migrants can fight their deportation in court by seeking asylum.

The app-powered system has been sharply criticized by migrant advocates, who say it penalizes the most destitute migrants who don’t have smartphones or an internet connection. They have also said the app does not allocate nearly enough spots to help the tens of thousands of migrants stranded in Mexico.

However, the app has facilitated “the largest expansion of migrant processing at ports of entry along the southern border in U.S. history” adds CBS News. “Since its use began in January, more than 120,000 migrants have secured appointments to enter the U.S. through CBP One, according to unpublished government figures.”

In addition to the CBP One process and the asylum restriction, the Biden Administration has begun allowing up to 30,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela to fly to the U.S. directly per month if they have American sponsors. In just several months, that program received over 1.5 million applications.