News Americas, FORT LAUDERDALE, FL, Fri. Aug. 28, 2020: With the Democratic National Convention over and with 70 plus days to go until the Nov. 3rd election, it is now critical to dig a little deeper into Vice President and Democratic Presidential candidate Joe Biden’s immigration plan, so the immigrant voting bloc has a clearer vision of what he claims he will deliver in the first 100 days, if elected.
Here’s the Top 15:
1: Immediately reverse the Trump Administration’s cruel and senseless policies that separate parents from their children at the US border, including ending the prosecution of parents for minor immigration violations as an intimidation tactic, and prioritizing the reunification of any children still separated from their families.
2: Protect Dreamers and their families by removing the uncertainty for Dreamers by reinstating the DACA program and exploring all legal options to protect their families from inhumane separation. Biden has also pledged to ensure Dreamers are eligible for federal student aid and are included in his proposals to provide access to community college without debt and invest in HBCU/Hispanic Serving Institution/Minority Serving Institutions.
3: Reverse Trump’s public charge rule to no longer allow immigration officials to make an immigrant’s ability to receive a visa or green card, contingent on their use of government services such as SNAP benefits or Medicaid, their household income, and other discriminatory criteria.
4: Order an immediate review of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for vulnerable populations who cannot find safety in their countries ripped apart by violence or disaster and protect TPS and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) holders from being returned to countries that are unsafe.
5: Restore sensible enforcement priorities by redirecting enforcement efforts toward threats to public safety and national security and ending workplace raids to ensure that threats based on workers’ status do not interfere with their ability to organize and improve their wages and working conditions.
6: Rescind the un-American travel and refugee bans, also referred to as “Muslim bans.”
7: End prolonged detention and reinvest in a case management program that will codify protections to safeguard children to make sure their treatment is consistent with their best interest while supporting services by faith-based organizations, such as Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services, to move migrants into safe environments as quickly as possible.
8: Restore and defend the naturalization process for green card holders by streamlining and improving the naturalization process to make it more accessible to qualified green card holders.
9: End the mismanagement of the asylum system, which fuels violence and chaos at the border by directing the necessary resources to ensure asylum applications are processed fairly and efficiently, while treating families and children with compassion and sensitivity.
10: Protect and expand opportunities for people who risked their lives in military service and direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to create a parole process for veterans deported by the Trump Administration.
11: Surge humanitarian resources to the border and foster public-private initiatives to support migrants awaiting assessment of their asylum claims.
12: End the so-called National Emergency that siphons federal dollars from the Department of Defense to build a wall at the southern border, by directing federal resources to smart border enforcement efforts, like investments in improving screening infrastructure at our ports of entry, that will actually keep America safer.
13: Ensure that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel abide by professional standards and are held accountable for inhumane treatment.
14: Revitalize the Task Force on New Americans and boost the US’ economy by prioritizing integration, promoting immigrant entrepreneurship, increasing access to language instruction, and promoting civil engagement.
15: Convene a regional meeting of leaders, including from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Canada, to address the factors driving migration and to propose a regional resettlement solution and institute a comprehensive, multi-national plan to address the challenges that foster migration.
As naturalized US citizens in the immigrant voting bloc get ready to vote between now and Nov. 3rd, let all be prepared to hold him accountable to these promises within the first 100 days, should he win. We as strong immigrant bloc of swing voters must ensure he does as the alternative is not an option for us anymore. Let us end the scapegoating and xenophobia and vote like our lives depend on it, because they truly do.
