What Biden Has Gotten Right on Immigration
President Biden’s handling of immigration is the subject of intense scrutiny and criticism from all sides. Much of this criticism is right, but the president has also implemented many positive policies. While it often acted too slowly and has much more to do, the new administration has already reversed the most important restrictionist policies imposed by the Trump administration.
Major Big Picture Actions
Ending the “security” travel bansOn January 20, 2021, President Biden fully rescinded President Trump’s ban on immigration and certain travel for nationals of Iran, North Korea, Somalia, Libya, Syria, and Yemen (the original group from 2017) as well as for Nigeria, Eritrea, Tanzania, Sudan, Kyrgyzstan, and Myanmar (the second group added in February 2020).
Rescinding the labor protectionist immigrant visa banOn February 25, 2021, President Biden fully rescinded President Trump’s worldwide ban on permanent immigration by almost everyone other than spouses and minor children of U.S. citizens. The ban was based on the fear that they would compete for jobs with U.S. citizens.
Bier, D.J. (2022, November). What Biden Has Gotten Right on Immigration. Cato Institute. https://www.cato.org/blog/what-biden-has-gotten-right-immigration