Immigration as a key election issue

As immigration again will become a major issue in the upcoming November elections, the Biden administration is attempting to look like it is getting tough on the border. Behind the scenes, though, the administration is operating a program of mass amnesty for migrants. The secrecy by the Biden administration when it comes to immigration is remarkable. Data shows that since 2022, more than 350,000 asylum cases filed by migrants have been closed by the U.S. government. This means that while the migrants are not granted or denied asylum, they are removed from the legal system and no longer required to check in with authorities. The move allows them to live in the U.S. legally and indefinitely without fear of deportation.

Since Biden assumed office, a large majority of asylum seekers have been allowed to remain in the country with a current backlog of asylum cases at about 3.5 million. In order to show a pre-election tough side, the Biden administration attempts to tighten things up at the border including issuing a rule that asylum claims must be resolved within 180 days for migrants who list their final destination in the U.S. as Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles or New York, The administration is also posed to issue an order to close the border once the number of crossing reaches 4,000 per day.

Another peculiar program established by the Biden administration is the immigration direct-flight program into 45 U.S. cities. These cities have received flights carrying hundreds of thousands of inadmissible aliens the Biden administration authorized to fly over the border. This program each month brings into the country about 30,000 people. The House committee’s report says that some 1.6 million inadmissible aliens around the world had lined up for a flight as of end of last year. The administration reports that through March 2024, some 404,000 immigrants mainly from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela have flown into U.S. airports under the program.

With millions of new arrivals since Biden took office, many cities are overwhelmed by increased costs and by more crimes. Since early 2021, more than 3.3 million migrants have been given an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), commonly known as a federal work permit, even though many do not have the legal right to work in the U.S. This means migrants are given the right to work before they are given asylum, a green card or other legal documentation that allows them to stay.

In a blizzard of rules by the administration and with more than 530 immigration-related executive actions by Biden, the government has expanded admissions and created brand new admission pipelines under new programs. These include population transfers from Afghanistan, Ukraine, Central America, family reunification programs, direct flight programs as mentioned and so on. There is also an ongoing pardoning program for illegal immigrants and once they are pardoned, they are immediately eligible for work permit and social security cards. The work permit is really the key as that give migrants a chance to settle here. In 2022, 1.3 million work permits were handed out, in 2023 2.1 million work permits and in 2024 it is estimated to be 3.3 million.

The establishment’s acceptance of the temporary work permit as proof of lawful immigration presence is a statement that it accepts Biden’s demographic and political revolution as a fait accompli. The reason for the democrats’ eagerness to bring in millions of migrants are likely many such as compassion, an international mindset, cheap labor, and new voters. Trump is for no or at least limited immigration and wants to complete a wall at the southern border. As a result, immigration will be one of the key election issues among other key concerns such as the economy, employment, abortion rights and crime.