Thousands of Children Cross US Border Ahead of Biden's Citizenship Reform for Illegal Immigrants

The border agency reports that nearly 6000 immigrant children have crossed the US border. This is a small surge compared to past years, but the pandemic has made adjustments to the possible size of such a flow, writes The Guardian.

Photo: Shutterstock

Thousands of unaccompanied immigrant children are trying to flee to the United States due to the coronavirus pandemic, devastating natural disasters, chronic violence, and severe economic hardship at home.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said 5871 children without a parent or legal guardian crossed the southwest border last month, the largest influx since the public health crisis began in early 2020.

This sudden surge is still relatively modest compared to the huge numbers for fiscal 2019, especially in the spring when border patrols detained more than 76 unaccompanied children.

But unlike in past years, the Office of Refugee Resettlement, which cares for these children, has been forced to reduce the number of shelter beds almost due to Covid-19. There is simply nowhere to place children - almost 5700 of the 7100 common places are already occupied.

Prior to taking office, Joe Biden's administration warned that its relatively pro-immigrant program would not immediately change border rules. White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki confirmed that despite rare exceptions, the vast majority of migrants are still rejected.

“Now is not the time to come,” she said.

Since 2014, a stream of immigrant children and families, mostly from Central America's Northern Triangle, have headed to the U.S. seeking refuge from gang-related violence, poverty and persecution. Between fiscal years 2013 and 2014, these numbers increased by 77%, and the flow of families more than quadrupled.

This has largely become a determining factor in the changes in US border migration. In response to the humanitarian crisis, former President Donald Trump developed brutal tactics to try to keep migrants from seeking protection in the United States, then used Covid-19 as a rationale to close the border entirely to defenseless migrants.

On the subject: Biden plans to host 8 times more refugees in the US than Trump

Under the guise of public health, the Trump administration has subjected hundreds of thousands of people—and at least 13 unaccompanied children, according to the ACLU—to rapid removal from the U.S. without due process during the pandemic. A federal judge ultimately banned the US government from applying this policy to unaccompanied minors, and Biden said he would not renew exceptions for children who come without a parent or guardian.

But amid the closure of the border, children who cannot safely enter US custody are making dangerous border crossings, said Erica Pineiro, director of political affairs and litigation at Al Otro Lado.

“They are suffering so much,” she said. “And to think that the US government is making them suffer more is really offensive.”

As the number of unaccompanied children facing border guards rises to levels not seen since the summer of 2019, a temporary care facility in Carrizo Springs, Texas, will soon reopen and will initially be able to accommodate about 700 children. The facility opened in July 2019 but closed a few weeks later.

Officials expect the children to be "placed in Carrizo Springs in 15 days or soon after," which alarmed some defenders.

"There is no reason to place children in these potentially dangerous facilities," Linda Brandmiller, a San Antonio-based immigration attorney, told USA Today.

In recent years, unaccompanied children have been arriving mainly from Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. The vast majority are teenagers. In a significant number of cases they flee. But whether this will make it possible to qualify for asylum will depend on how asylum policy now changes.

Biden plans to unveil immigration reform bill

The proposal is expected to include a path to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants and expand the refugee resettlement program. NBC News.

The Biden administration and Democrats are expected to release an immigration reform bill later this week, several sources familiar with the plan said.

The text of the US Citizenship Act of 2021 will reflect the immigration priorities that President Joe Biden unveiled on his first day in office. His proposal includes an earned path to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants, expands the refugee resettlement program and deploys more technology on the southern border. There are additional protections being considered in the legislation, such as asylum in countries of origin for minors, expanded benefits for Dreamers, and repeal of the public charge rule.

You may be interested in: top New York news, stories of our immigrants and helpful tips about life in the Big Apple - read it all on ForumDaily New York

As a potential secondary path, lawmakers would work to immediately pass bills legalizing farm workers and Dreamers and then move on to larger changes. The main goal is progress, officials and advocates say.

“This plan aims to not only fix our broken immigration system, but build a better system that brings families together, brings the undocumented community out of the shadows and onto a path to citizenship, protects human rights, addresses the root causes of migration, and includes a smart strategy border security,” Sen. Robert Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat who supports the bill in the Senate, said in a statement.

Biden has already signed a number of executive measures aimed at reforming immigration and winding down Trump's efforts.

Read also on ForumDaily:

Biden will consult with Indian chiefs on federal policy

One day a week: White House surprises with its plan to open schools

New payments in connection with COVID-19: why you should rush to filing a declaration for 2020

Thousands of dollars for each child: Democrats prepared a new financial aid project

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.