House Releases Updated Spending Bill
The Biden administration unveiled an updated framework of its budget reconciliation bill on Thursday, with $100 billion earmarked for immigration reform. The legislative package proposes moving up the eligibility date on the immigration “registry,” a 1929 immigration provision that allows certain undocumented people already in the United States to receive green cards. Moving the registry date into 2010 will allow up to 7.1 million people to gain work authorization and protection from deportation.
White House Announces New Vaccine Rules For Travelers
Foreign travelers will need to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 to enter the U.S. by air starting on Nov. 8, the White House announced on Monday. Fully vaccinated travelers will need to show proof of vaccination along with a negative Covid test taken within 72 hours of departure. Children under 18 are exempt from the requirement, although they’ll still need to show proof of a negative test.
Immigration Arrests Plummet to Lowest Level in More Than a Decade
Immigration arrests dropped sharply in Fiscal Year 2021, according to new data from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Arrests of undocumented immigrants fell approximately 30% from 2020 to 2021, and nearly 75% since 2011.
DHS Expands List of Places Where ICE Should Avoid Making Immigration Arrests
The Department of Homeland Security has expanded the list of places where immigration arrests are not allowed by adding day care centers, mental health facilities, and vaccine sites to a list that already included schools, churches, and hospitals. The updated policy includes an exception for situations in which a noncitizen poses a threat to national security or public safety.