Republicans Unveil Immigration Agenda Ahead of Midterms
Republican lawmakers unveiled their plans last Friday to fight crime, secure the border and reduce inflation in a final push ahead of the Nov. 8 midterm elections.
The bill, called “Commitment to America,” outlines a series of principles that serve to guide Republicans if they succeed in flipping the House. The plan takes a tough stance against immigration, an issue that has taken center stage in recent weeks as Republican governors continue to bus thousands of migrants from Texas and Arizona to East Coast cities.
Critics say the plan is vague on details, and offers more of a blueprint than a set of specific proposals.
Americans Public Split on Migrant Busing Crisis
American voters are evenly divided on whether it’s moral or effective to send migrants to liberal cities once they cross the U.S. border, according to a new poll by Politico. Forty-two percent of voters surveyed approved of relocating migrants, while 41% percent disapproved.
In recent weeks, Republican governors have transferred thousands of migrants to blue states in protest of the federal government’s border and immigration policies.
Polling among Texas residents confirmed Gov. Abbott’s border initiatives have majority support among not only his constituents, but also an increasing bloc of independent voters.
Biden Administration Extends Temporary Protected Status for Burma
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced an 18-month extension of Temporary Protected Status for Burma, from Nov. 26, 2022, through May 25, 2024. DHS also redesignated Burma for TPS, opening up eligibility to all Burmese nationals residing in the U.S. as of September 25, 2022.
Currently, 970 Burmese citizens will benefit from the extended TPS designation and more than 2,000 more are now eligible to apply for TPS under Burma’s redesignation.
Japan Lifts Travel Restrictions on Foreign Travelers
Japan will lift travel restrictions on foreign tourists after closing its borders for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Starting Oct. 11, travelers will no longer be required to go through a travel agency or obtain a visa and the admission cap will be removed.
The announcement comes as Hong Kong and Taiwan also recently lifted strict travel restrictions.
Immigration Judges Complete Record Number of Cases
Immigration judges have increased case completions by a record 50% since 2019, according to a new report.
Judges have closed more than 375,000 court cases in recent months, and will reach at least 400,000 court completions by the end of this fiscal year.
Reasons for the increase include more judges, as well as more cases being dismissed because DHS failed to file the correct paperwork with the court.