Boundless Immigration News Weekly Recap Archive: April 14, 2023

Biden to Expand Healthcare Coverage to DACA Recipients

President Biden on Thursday announced plans to allow DACA recipients to enroll in a healthcare plan through Medicaid or the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Biden said in a video posted to Twitter that "healthcare should be a right, not a privilege."

DHS to Test Expedited Asylum Screenings at U.S.-Mexico Border

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced plans to test a new expedited asylum screening process, which would grant asylum seekers access to legal counsel and ensure screening interviews are conducted within 72 hours.

The experiment comes ahead of an anticipated surge in border crossings when the U.S. lifts all remaining COVID-related restrictions next month, including public health measure Title 42.

Eyeing the Presidency, DeSantis Expands His Hardline Immigration Agenda

Presidential hopeful Gov. Ron DeSantis has proposed a flurry of harsh measures to crackdown on undocumented immigration and push back against the Biden administration’s border policies.

Among the bills expected to pass in the Florida legislature are proposed felony charges for anyone sheltering undocumented immigrants, a policy that would strip undocumented immigrants of driver’s licenses, and a system that would require hospitals to report patients’ immigration statuses to the state. Critics warn the new measures will encourage racial profiling and hurt Florida’s economy.

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Government Officials Say More Chinese Migrants are Seeking Entry to the U.S.

According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), at least 4,300 Chinese migrants have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border since January, more than double the number of crossings in 2022.

Several Chinese nationals interviewed by MSNBC cited dwindling economic opportunities and widespread government corruption as reasons to flee their home country.