Boundless Immigration News Weekly Recap Archive: October 20, 2023

Migrant Families Separated By Trump Reach Settlement

A legal settlement has been reached for thousands of migrant families who were separated at the U.S.-Mexico border during the Trump administration's "zero-tolerance" immigration policy in 2017 and 2018.

The class-action agreement, filed in federal court in San Diego, offers these families work authorization and the ability to seek asylum in the United States.

Biden Approval Ratings Drop Amid Immigration Concerns

President Biden’s approval ratings dropped to some of the lowest levels of his presidency so far, as concerns over immigration rose among the American public.

The Reuters opinion poll showed only 40% of respondents approved of Biden’s actions as president, with 14% of respondents citing immigration as their top concern — the highest measure of concern over immigration since before Biden took office. A separate Reuters poll last month found that a majority of Americans agreed with the statement that "immigration is making life harder for native-born Americans."

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Administrative Flaws in the Diversity Visa Program Cost Applicants Green Cards

During the 2023 Diversity Visa program, the State Department purposefully scheduled more interviews than the number of visas available, leading to confusion and disappointment for many applicants. Dozens of diversity visa applicants were told in writing that their visas had been approved, only to find out later that the visa they had been promised was gone.

“The State Department needs to keep a better track on the number of visas issued so that hopeful applicants are not strung along to the end only to be told their interview is canceled because the cap has been reached,” said one New York-based immigration attorney whose clients were impacted.

Hamas Terrorist Attacks Prompt Border Security Questions

Following the recent terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas in Israel, concerns about national security threats at the U.S.-Mexico border have resurfaced.

Border Patrol apprehensions of individuals on the government’s terrorism watchlist have increased in recent years, as the number of border crossings reached record highs. Republican lawmakers and conservative media outlets argue the Biden administration’s border policies make it easier for terrorists to enter the country. However, experts have refuted these claims, stating these incidents represent a very small fraction of all migrants processed at the border and not all individuals on national security watchlists are suspected terrorists.