By Nandika Handa
There has been a lot anticipation on how President Biden would set the ball rolling and alleviate all the discomfort triggered to immigrants and households by what seemed like an onslaught by the preceding government.
“This is a great nation. We are good people. And over the centuries, through storm and strife, in peace and in war, we’ve come so far. But we still have far to go. We’ll press forward with speed and urgency, for we have much to do in this winter of peril and significant possibilities, much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build, and much to gain.”
These words in his inaugural speech tugged at the heartstrings of a lot of hoping to see the guarantee of their American dream renewed. Some hoped for the much better and some have been also wounded, also cynical to think that the method of transform would essentially, commence.
For all these waiting with bated breath for some sort of and advent on reforms, a transform of stance towards immigrants and the restoration of American values – January 2021 hailed excellent news. Seventeen executive actions have been place by means of by the Biden government on January 20th, 2021.
The executive actions addressed a lot of problems that have been the concentrate of discussion ranging from wearing masks as a measure to curb COVID to immigration.
There has been a lot of conjecture on when and how immigrants will advantage from the switch in government and a lot of men and women have their future hanging in the balance.
One such group of men and women are these who are usually recognized as the “dreamers” and have been in a position to make their lives in the USA below the protection of DACA (Deferred action for Childhood arrivals.) This memorandum is sought to – “Defer the removal of certain undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children, have obeyed the law, and stayed in school or enlisted in the military. DACA and associated regulations permit eligible individuals who pass a background check to request temporary relief from removal and to apply for temporary work permits. DACA reflects a judgment that these immigrants should not be a priority for removal based on humanitarian concerns and other considerations and that work authorization will enable them to support themselves and their families, and to contribute to our economy, while they remain.”
There are about 700,000 who fall below this category and getting brought to the USA at a quite young age know no other nation but that. Trump attempted to place an finish to DACA in 2017.
The Biden government has passed an executive order to” preserve and fortify” DACA and has offered a new lease of life to a significant group of men and women in the USA by undertaking so.
Under the Trump administration there have been travels bans placed on travellers specially from “Muslim” nations. The Biden government recognizes this as going against American values and recognizes in the program that these bans are “Morally Wrong”. The new government has recognized that these bans have been “a stain on national conscience” and are “inconsistent with the long history of welcoming people of all faiths and no faith at all.”
The democratic government has passed a proclamation on ending discriminatory bans on entry to the USA. With this proclamation, embassies have been ordered to get started processing visas from the impacted nations. The proclamation also states that there will be no prejudice against folks who might’ve been denied a visa due to earlier situations. This proclamation could make a substantial moment for a lot of men and women who have ties to the US but have been unable to enter and reunite with household who have been waiting for extended periods of time. This proclamation could calm the nerves of a lot of who have to have to travel to the U.S legitimately but really feel petrified to do so merely mainly because of their final names and the way they seem.
Trump had declared a national emergency and a lot of funds have been diverted into developing the wall at the border with Mexico. The Biden government has passed the “Proclamation on the Termination of Emergency With respect To the Southern Border of the United States and Redirection of Funds Diverted to Border Wall Construction.” With this proclamation, the building of the wall along the border will quit and the government will also appear into the federal funds that have been diverted into the developing of the wall.
For immigrants who felt also scared to “hope” also battered to “wish” to be united with their household return to their jobs or get started a new life in a nation that is constructed on the virtues of equality, chance and justice for all this could be the starting of the silver lining that is required so desperately. The days to come must provide respite to other groups of immigrants and maybe they will awake to positive news more usually than they have in the Trump Era!
(The author is Bengaluru primarily based Independent Immigration Consultant. Views expressed are individual and do not reflect the official position or policy of TheSpuzz Online.)