USCIS Director Pleads For More Federal Immigration Funds
USCIS Director Ur Jaddou asked Congress for additional funding to support government efforts to tackle the ever-growing visa backlogs. Jaddou cited visa delays as a “critically important” issue to solve — and fast, saying, “Let me be very clear. Our processing times are too long. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it.” The agency is facing an unprecedented backlog which has driven a massive increase in processing times, holding applicants in limbo for months and, in some cases, years.
Jaddau also touched on an upcoming increase in immigration application fees. Still, there’s no word on when the fee increase will take effect.
Increase in Ukrainian, Russian Immigrants at the Southern U.S. Border
According to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) data released this week, the U.S. Southern border saw a marked increase in Russian and Ukrainian immigrants in December 2021.
Though people from the Northern Triangle (Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador) make up the lion’s share of immigrants at the border, more than 2000 Russians and 300 Ukrainians traveled across the ocean to the United States last month. Axios reported that only 53 Russians were found at the U.S.-Mexico border in December 2020. The increase in Russian and Ukrainian immigrants coming to the U.S. coincides with the elevated conflict between Russia and Ukraine. However, though U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) wouldn’t comment publicly, a source told Business Insider they believe this trend could also indicate that smugglers are changing their tactics.
Two-Year Ban on Foreign Travel to the Philippines Lifted
After two long years, the Philippines is finally reopening its doors to fully vaccinated travelers. The Philippine government originally announced it would open on December 1 of last year but postponed that plan due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant.
In the first year of the pandemic, more than 1 million Filipinos lost their jobs in tourism as the number of tourists traveling to the Philippines plummeted by 6 million. Now the country is opening travel to more than 150 countries — including the U.S. — effective February 10.
Travelers who are unvaccinated will still have to quarantine in a government facility until they have a negative COVID-19 PCR test (on day 5) and will then have to quarantine at home for two weeks after they arrive. Kids who are 18 and under are exempt from the vaccination requirements.
8 States Sue Biden Over Central American Minor Immigration Program
Eight Republican attorney generals have sued the Biden administration, asking a federal judge to halt a program allowing children of legal immigrants from Central America who live in the U.S. to reunite with their families. The program was started under the Obama Administration in 2014, with the goal of offering “at-risk” children in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras the chance to come to the U.S. as refugees. Last year, President Biden expanded the program — allowing children whose parents or legal guardians are currently working through existing asylum cases to participate as well. The attorneys general in Arkansas, Alaska, Florida, Indiana, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, and Texas filed the suit last Friday, saying, “There are no lawful paths for aliens who lack status to come to join other aliens who lack status in the United States—and for a good reason. It defies common sense.”
Black Immigrant Population Set To Double by 2060
Boundless released a new report looking at the unique challenges and experiences facing Black immigrants in the United States.
Black immigrants are a small but growing portion of the immigrant population. There are currently around 4.6 million Black immigrants in the U.S., a figure that could more than double to 9.5 million by 2060.