The US Government has issued a manifesto for what it calls a “fair, orderly and human immigration system” as the issue continues to polarise American conservatives and progressives.

‘The Biden Administration Blueprint for a Fair, Orderly and Humane Immigration System’ promises to reform the US immigration regime and includes new legislation aimed at creating a new system to “responsibly manage and secure the US border, provide a pathway to citizenship, and better manage migration” across the Americas.

It comes after a six month whole of government review of migration which has produced a  vision for a 21st century immigration system that “secures the border, fairly and efficiently considers asylum claims, strengthens regional migration management efforts in North and Central America, and addresses the root causes of migration from Central America”.

“Success in building this fair, orderly, and humane immigration system won’t be achieved overnight, especially after the prior Administration’s irrational and inhumane policies, but this Administration has a blueprint to get there and is making real progress,” the blueprint says.

“We will always be a nation of borders, and we will enforce our immigration laws in a way that is fair and just. We will continue to work to fortify an orderly immigration system,’ it says.

The blueprint includes: making better use of existing enforcement resources and cutting costs which has blown out to $US15 billion in 2021; improving the expedited removal process for those who arrive at the border and fairly and efficiently determine which individuals have legitimate claims for asylum and other forms of protection, and: facilitating secure management of borders in the region by providing training and technical assistance, supporting the improvement of border infrastructure and technology, and promoting collaborative migration and border management approaches.

It also promises to strengthen anti-smuggling and anti-trafficking operations by working with regional governments to investigate and prosecute individuals involved in migrant smuggling, human trafficking, and other crimes against migrants and bolster public messaging on migration by ensuring consistent messages to discourage irregular migration and promote safe, legal, and orderly migration.

The blueprint aims to further improving the efficiency and fairness of the US asylum system by authorising asylum officers to adjudicate asylum claims for those arriving at the border and establishing clear and just eligibility standards in keeping with international standards.

The Biden administration has already begun to dismantle Trump administration policies and decisions that unjustly prevent individuals from obtaining asylum.

And it also promises to maximise legal representation and legal orientation programs for asylum seekers through pro-bono legal service providers as well as reducing backlogs in immigration courts.

The administration has committed to providing humanitarian support to address the acute needs that pressure individuals to abandon their homes, including addressing food insecurity and malnutrition and mitigating the impacts of successive droughts and food shortages.

Crucially, the blueprint outlines plans to expand access to international protection to provide safety to individuals closer to their homes by building and improving national asylum systems, enhancing efforts to resettle refugees, and scaling up protection efforts for at-risk groups.

It will also restart the Central American Minors (CAM) program which provides children the opportunity to receive protection and reunite with parents in the United States as well as the so-called ‘Dreamers’ program which, gives the right for unaccompanied minors who have come to the US to remain.

Read the full blueprint here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/07/27/fact-sheet-the-biden-administration-blueprint-for-a-fair-orderly-and-humane-immigration-system/