A bipartisan group of senators has introduced legislation to combat human trafficking networks operating along the U.S.-Mexico border. The bill includes funding for increased law enforcement cooperation, expanded victim services, and enhanced penalties for traffickers.
Proposed Legislation Targets Trafficking Networks Along Border
Federal Court Upholds Protections for DACA Recipients
A federal court has upheld protections for recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, ruling that the policy remains valid while ongoing legal challenges are resolved. The decision ensures that current DACA recipients, also known as Dreamers, can continue to renew their status and work legally in the U.S. The ruling, however, does not allow new applications for the program.
Administration Expands Humanitarian Aid for Border Communities
The Biden administration is announcing it will extend federal funding to border communities now overwhelmed by migrants. Basic resources are allocated for emergency shelter, healthcare, and law enforcement, among other infrastructure and service demands that are on the rise.
House Proposes Streamlined Visa Process for Tech Talent
Lawmakers in the House of Representatives have moved to introduce legislation that would speed up visa processing times for foreign tech workers due to the desperate cry of critical shortages in the tech industry. The bill proposes streamlining the H-1B and O-1 visa processing, prioritizes high-demand skills, and incentivizes tech companies when they make investments in training programs for American workers in the proposed legislation.
Administration Expands Temporary Visas for Disaster-Affected Regionsc
The Biden administration has announced an expansion of temporary work visas for people from regions hit by natural disasters, such as hurricanes and earthquakes. The move is meant to give relief to people whose livelihoods have been disrupted while helping to fill labor shortages in vital American industries, including construction and agriculture.
Bill Introduced to Reform Immigration Court System
There was a bipartisan bill introduced into Congress that would comprehensively reshape immigration court operations as an approach to cut backlogs, among measures to make the system's caseload more efficient. The number of judges would be added, so too an electronic case management system in court records, and an independent immigration court to be separated from the Justice Department would be established.
Federal Judge Blocks Policy Restricting Asylum Applications
A federal judge has blocked a policy that aimed to limit asylum applications for people crossing the border without first applying in another country. It was ruled out of order because it violated both U.S. and international law, which entitled one to seek asylum regardless of how an individual enters the country.
House Introduces Bill to Modernize Immigration Technology Systems
The House of Representatives is introducing legislation that would make modernization in immigration technology systems reduce delays and streamline application processing. The bill would add funding to modernize ancient systems, bring in AI-powered tools, and even provide a single platform from which applicants could track their cases themselves.