Latest Immigration Posts

Brief #129 – Immigration Policy
By Kathryn Baron

The United States has already evacuated over 65,000 Afghans and nearly 24,000 have arrived in the US. In addition, 23,000 are on US military bases abroad and another 20,000 are waiting in other countries before continuing their travels to the US.

The Biden Administration has asked Congress for $6.5 billion in emergency funds to assist in resettlement endeavors. As of now, Afghan refugees are to receive $1,255 of government funds to help with some expenses but are not eligible for food stamps or Medicaid at this time.

Brief #128 – Immigration Policy
By Kathryn Baron

As the Taliban rapidly took over Afghanistan amidst US withdrawal, the Biden Administration has vowed to help Afghans, targeting those who supported American military and diplomatic efforts, obtain Special Immigration Visas (SIVs). Approximately 550,000 Afghans are internally displaced and 18.4 million currently require humanitarian assistance in some capacity – women and children are among the majority of individuals immediately effected. Throughout the 20-year US involvement in Afghanistan, the US has allegedly resettled over 75,000 Afghans and their families through the SIV program and plan to continue.

Brief #127 – Immigration Policy
By Kathryn Baron

As of early August 2021, nearly a third of migrant children detained in government custody are being held in emergency shelters. Migrant teens are housed in long trailers with little space for recreation, and some reports allege they have to wash their clothes in bathroom sinks and occasionally endure bouts of food poisoning.

Immigration Policy Brief #125
By Kathryn Baron

Earlier this week, Vice President Kamala Harris took her first trip abroad in her new position, to Guatemala and Mexico. She announced the launch of an anti-corruption task force to be established for training law enforcement, aiding prosecutors, and targeting transnational crime in Guatemala; a young women’s empowerment initiative; the promise of $130 million in aid for the remainder of Biden’s term; and lastly, that the US would donate 500,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses.

Brief # 124 – Immigration Policy 
By Kathryn Baron

Recently, the Biden Administration announced its intent to expand the existing American immigration system. The administration’s goal is to  reverse anti-immigration efforts from the Trump Administration that led to lower levels of foreign workers, families and refugees, and numerous procedural hurdles.

Brief #123—Immigration
By Kathryn Baron
The Department of Homeland Security will establish a Family Reunification Task Force with the mandate of reuniting families who were separated during the Trump Administration’s Zero Tolerance Policy. The Task Force will be led by Homeland Security Secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, and involve substantial interagency coordination with the Department of Justice (settlement negotiation efforts), the Department of State (system for processing in-country requests for travel documents to enter the US), and the Department of Health and Human Services (facilitate services and support for effected families). The Task Force is expected to deliver a  progress report  by June 2, 2021.

Brief #122—Immigration
By Kathryn Baron
Under the Trump Administration, the US held a historically low refugee cap of 15,000. On the campaign trail President Biden  vowed to increase the limit for this fiscal year to 62,500 and ideally, to 125,000 for the following year. Biden emphasized the low Trump-era cap did not accurately depict America’s values as a “nation that welcomes and supports refugees.”

Brief #121—Immigration
By Kathryn Baron
Migrant workers support the US economy providing American industries like agriculture and technology the critical labor force they need to prosper. In 2019, more than 900,000 temporary foreign workers visas were granted, compared to only 400,000 in 1994.  During lockdown measures in 2020, Trump suspended all temporary work visas to ensure public health safety.

The first migrant labor program came during WWI due to severe labor shortages and drew in agricultural laborers primarily from Mexico. In 1952, lawmakers attempted to regulate and consolidate temporary visa regulations into a comprehensive Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which introduced the H2 visa (the precursor to the H1B). There are currently 4 types of H-visas for temporary workers (with the 4th being for spouses and unmarried children of H-visa recipients).  See below for an explanation of the different H type visas that that are used by migrant workers.