Post by JT Hower. Colgate Class of 2022.

Source: Montoya-Galvez, C. (2021, April 9). “Biden Sets Immigration Priorities in First Funding Plan to Congress.” MSN.

This article focuses on Biden’s first funding request to Congress, specifically those aspects of his new funding plan relating to immigration. These requests starkly contrast the funding priorities set forth under the Trump administration. One of the major changes is that Biden got rid of the funds that the previous administration had allocated to fund the US-Mexico border wall. These new funds come at a great time as there were over 172,000 migrants apprehended at the Southern US border in the last month, which is the highest number in over two decades. Biden’s plans have a particular focus on the treatment and processing of immigrants who have crossed over the border. One of the examples of this is the $375 million that is being allocated to the USCIS to process asylum and citizenship applications. Additionally, the Office of Refugee Resettlement is being provided $4.1 billion to resettle around 125,000 refugees in 2021. This money would additionally provide resources to house unaccompanied migrant children, a glaring issue in the US right now.

As mentioned, this funding proposal is a dramatic turn around from what was faced under the previous administration in the past 4 years. With the focus on funding allocated to those groups which are already in the US, the government should be able to process and relocate immigrants in a much more efficient and humane manner. The images of the conditions that migrants face in the camps they are kept at after being apprehended have been swirling the Internet, showing the painfully horrific conditions these people are being held in. With funding for more judges and more efficient application processes, the US should be able to improve the conditions in these facilities as well as make them more accommodating for those who do have to live there. This change in policy will likely increase the number of immigrants who attempt to enter the US, specifically at the Southern border. More lenient immigration policy is a pull factor which entices immigrants to make the journey from their home to the US.