The Biden government on Wednesday ordered a break in some deportations for 100 days starting no later than Friday, while reviewing enforcement policies.
Acting Homeland Security Secretary David Pekoske led a review of immigration practices and policies.
“For 100 days, starting on January 22, 2021, DHS will pause the removals of certain deported non-citizens to ensure that we have a fair and effective immigration system focused on protecting national security, the border and public security. “, says a statement.
The change comes on President Joe Biden’s first day of administration. Biden was sworn in as 46th president on Wednesday.
Former President Donald Trump, who left for Florida before the inauguration ceremony, has been criticized for deportations and hardline policies in relation to immigration and border issues and a widely condemned “zero tolerance” policy that separated thousands of children their families.
Lawyers working to bring families apart during the Trump administration said they were unable to find the parents of hundreds of these children.
Biden on Wednesday revoked one of Trump’s first executive orders, which essentially made it a policy to act against anyone in the country illegally and opposed the exemptions.
Biden promised to “restore sensible enforcement priorities” and said that targeting those who have lived and worked in the United States for decades is counterproductive.
Biden also signed executive orders on Wednesday revoking Trump’s restrictions on travel to several Muslim-majority countries and halting the construction of the southern border wall.
Pekoske issued a memorandum directing Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other parts of the Department of Homeland Security “to review and redefine enforcement policies and define interim policies for civil enforcement while the Department develops its final priorities.”
For civil law enforcement, the memo said, Homeland Security priorities for now will focus on things like national security risks, people trapped at the border trying to enter illegally and people released from prisons or jail after being convicted of serious crimes.
The 100-day pause in ordering deportations does not apply to people suspected of terrorism or other national security concerns, according to the memo.
It also does not apply to those who were not in the United States before November 1 or who waived their right to stay, and it does not apply if the incumbent Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement “makes an individualized determination” to remove It is necessary.
