The Biden administration late Wednesday suspended a 100-day deportation for some days starting no later than Friday as it reviewed its enforcement policy.
Acting Homeland Security Secretary David Pekoske led a review of immigration enforcement practices and policies.
“For 100 days, from 22 January 2021, DHS will suspend the removal for certain non-citizens who are ordered to be deported to ensure that we have a fair and effective immigration system aimed at national security, border security and to protect public safety, “reads a statement.
The move comes on the first day of President Joe Biden’s administration. Biden was sworn in as the 46th president earlier Wednesday.
Former President Donald Trump, who left for Florida before the inauguration ceremony, has been criticized for deportations and harsh policies on immigration and border issues and a widely condemned ‘zero tolerance’ policy that has separated thousands of children from their families.
Lawyers working to reunite families separated during the Trump administration said they could not find the parents of hundreds of children.
Biden on Wednesday revoked one of Trump’s earliest executive orders, which essentially made it a policy to act illegally on anyone in the country and opposed exemptions.
Biden is committed to “restoring meaningful maintenance priorities,” and said it is counterproductive to target those who have lived and worked in the U.S. for decades.
Biden on Wednesday also signed executive orders revoking Trump’s restrictions on travel from several Muslim-majority countries and halting the construction of the southern border wall.
Pekoske has issued a memorandum recommending Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other parts of the Department of Homeland Security “to review and reinstate enforcement policies and establish interim civil enforcement policies while the Department finalizes its develop priorities. “
For civilian enforcement, the memorandum reads, Homeland Security’s priorities will now focus on things like national security risks, people being arrested at the border and trying to enter illegally, and people being released from prisons or prisons after being convicted of serious crimes.
According to the memorandum, the 100-day interruption over the enforcement of orderly deportations does not apply to people suspected of terrorism or other concerns about national security.
It also does not apply to those who were not in the US before November 1 or who waive their right to stay, and it does not apply if the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement is “individualized”. .
