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Joe Biden’s Executive Order Leaves Asylum Seekers And Refugees Scouring For A Safe Haven

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Joe Biden’s Executive Order Leaves Asylum Seekers and Refugees Scouring for a Safe Haven Written by Mariah Rodriguez, Public Health Major ’24
On June 4th, 2024, President Biden placed and executive action to imprison migrants who attempt to unlawfully cross over the Southern border. This executive order does have a starting point, beginning when there is a high level of cross-over at the border maxing out at 2,500, unauthorized border crossings. This executive order is heavily supported by the Biden Administration and the Republican parties as officials from this elective party believe in a stricter border protection reinforcement and would advocate for an increase in protections regarding the accessibility of refugees into the U.S. Those opposed to this order such as: Human Rights Orgs, International Rescue Committee and officials within the Democratic party, are taken aback and emphasize the overall harm being placed onto the asylum seeker and refugee population. Bidens order has suspended the processing of asylum claims for refugees attempting to cross over the Southern U.S border, presenting major issues regarding safety within refugee health, living conditions, and overall danger to the rights of people. To assist in progressive steps forward, there are several solutions to bring a compromise that is proposed for ethicality and moral of the US. First, there should be an advancement in the process of asylum seekers, providing them with more resources to assist refugees in properly being navigated and avoiding the unlawful crossing. Second, an expansion on pathways for unification at a legal standpoint, implementing programs to provide a numerous number of opportunities for refugees that would be more difficult to track. Lastly, reforming the systems and policies that are sent into place, restricting the ability for refugees to be with their families and have a successful path across the border and in citizenship. When seeking change for stricter borders and ensuring proper procedure for refugee entry into the states, progressive movement with consideration to the livelihood of the refugees must also be a component to observe and focus on. BACKGROUND Within the United States the topic of Refugees, Asylum seekers, and Undocumented Aliens continues to be an ongoing issue especially this year among the newest 2024 election results. The executive order placed by President Biden on June 4th, 2024 presents an immense restriction on asylum rights amongst the Southern border between the U.S and Mexico. The main objective of this order is to restrict refugees and migrants from crossing the border unlawfully imposing vulnerable circumstances upon the community leaving them without
BACKGROUND the legal protections needed. Through this executive order not only are asylum seekers affected by those of racial groups such as black, brown and indigenous migrants and families and unaccompanied children who are seeking refuge for better living. The intensity is much higher than what they possibly knew or even considered when implementing the limitations and restrictions for asylum laws. Asylum seekers can be identified as those who are fleeing from their home countries due to severe issues of abuse and inequality, with unlivable circumstances. These families and children are further being divided and placed in captivities that remove them from the only ones they know. This executive order presents major adversity and displacement of those seeking relocation and improved conditions for their health and living. In order to observe the true extent of how this order affects the population of refugees and migrants, as of June 2024 there have been approximately "122.6 million people worldwide who were forcibly displaced" which included 43.7 million refugees (UN Refugee Agency). Due to the cap on the asylum pathway on the southern border and a high demand for relocation and refuge, there is a result of individuals unable to access the needed safety and shelter needed to survive. However, this executive order did not just get created out of sole interest therefore to there must be a focus on contributors on how this executive order even became necessary. The first key contributor to analyze is the overall environment circumstances within other countries, the climate of other countries drives their own people out, sending families and others with no choice but to leave. For example, Palestinians who attempted to seek refuge elsewhere due to the war imposed by Isreal. Another possible contributor to this establishment is the inadequate approach and structure of the process of the asylum system. There is a decrease in both funding and resources that would be a possible game changer for the process for those seeking asylum and more expediting of claims for those attempting to find refuge the correct and legal ways. Lastly, there could be an issue of eligibility and strict oversight on who enters and the conditions that individuals must meet in order to "pass" the test for accessibility to asylum centers. The displacement of people should not be an issue that is occurring within the world, its presenting and objectified nature onto them when they are human. There are ethical stances that are being trampled over and ignored for the sake of addressing a majority vote of those who don't consider the root causes of the asylum seeking from the migrants and refugees.
BACKGROUND Further, t here must be awareness brought to the overall consequences and significance of the executive orders intense call for capping. With this asylum cap at 2,500, asylum seekers are faced with more violence, exploitation to sexual assaults with women and children becoming more prone to trafficking and gender-based abuse (Concern worldwide US), the undermining of refugee protections and separating of families, the towns outside of the borders where individuals stay to attempt their travels present an increase in economic hardship for the location, and the trust and respect for the leadership is eroded widely as the protections increase pushing America lower on the level of protection for various nations' treatment on asylum seekers. Overall, there is disruption in the flow of migration for those seeking refuge In the US and although the order had proper intent with better managing border patrolling and ensuring all legality is matched, it still presents an overbearing amount of suffering to the refugees and families facing displacement due to searching for an improved condition of living. POTENTIAL SO1 'TIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS o Implementing a call to improve the Asylum Processing on the border Asses where funding is going, assign a new budget for Asylum processing to asses' multiple issues such as ▪ Hiring more asylum court staff, obtaining more interpreters to ensure all details and information is being relayed to the individual seeking asylum, hiring more experienced and knowledgeable officers who specialize heavily in de-escalation through communication and understanding rather than violence ▪ Training for staff to ensure they understand what they are dealing with and how to navigate intense situations ▪ Begin a new pattern of guidance to ensure accuracy and fairness in the judgment of asylum claims o Push for an Expansion on the legal pathways on Unification This closely refers to the implementation of creating programs and organizations that can bring families back together and programs for guest workers ▪ Pulls away from the same approach of improving policies and jumps into placing funding for programs that would assist in mental health improvements within the community of refugees and asylum seekers
SOLUTIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS o Reforming the systems from within, addressing root causes of the migrations and overflow of asylum seekers and refugees n Decrease the number of barriers that stand in the way of holding a successful asylum system and remove the restrictions that hold families from being able to see each other. Address and attack the issue at its root, becoming more open to alternative approaches for border crossings. having someone to represent them Resorting to a more holistic approach with border crossing which ties into being more interpersonal and understanding of entirety of the journey and circumstances REFERENCES UNHCR US -. (n.d.). Figures at a glance UNHCR US. UNHCR US. https://www.unhcr.org/us/about-unhcr/who-we-are/figures-glance The global refugee crisis, explained. (2024, March 12). https://concernusa.org/news/global-refugee-crisis-explained/ 46 advocacy organizations denounce Biden Executive Order on Asylum - Welcome with dignity. (n.d.). https://welcomewithdignity.org/46-advocacy-organizations-denounce-biden-executive-order-on-asylum/ House, W. (2024, June 4). FACT SHEET: President Biden announces new actions to secure the border. The White House. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/06/04/fact-sheet-president-biden-announces-new-actions-to-secure-the-border/ Human Rights First. (2024, September 30). Human Rights First opposes latest restrictions on access to asylum - Human Rights First. https://humanrightsfirst.org/library/human-rights-first-opposes-latest-restrictions-on-access-to-asylum/ Chavez, S. M. (2024, June 4). Texas Republicans, Democrats and immigrant advocacy groups blast Biden's asylum executive order. KERA News. https://www.keranews.org/news/2024-06-04/texas-republicans-democrats-and-immigrant-advocacy-groups-blast-bidens-asylum-executive-order


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