President Biden Breaks Down Trump’s Barriers

• Posted on Jan 25, 2021
• In United States

Promises a future of unity and global acceptance

Within less than several hours since taking office, America’s new President Biden made some important executive decisions concerning the nation’s travel and immigration legislations. This includes signing an immediate order to end the ban on travelers from several majority-Muslim countries, which was first issued by Donald Trump in 2017.

“Beyond contravening our values, these Executive Orders and Proclamations have jeopardized our global network of alliances and partnerships and are a moral blight that has dulled the power of our example the world over,” reads Biden’s executive order rescinding the ban.

President Biden also ordered that the State Department resume processing visa applications and that within 45 days, the secretary of state provide him with a report outlining the number of visa applicants being considered for a waiver before the Trump order was signed.

Over the course of his campaign, Biden had outlined an ambitious immigration agenda, vowing to introduce comprehensive immigration legislation and maintain programs that provide relief to immigrants living in the United States, including an expansion of global refugee admissions.

The Biden Harris campaign had notably highlighted a legislative proposal for an eight-year pathway to citizenship which would put millions of qualifying immigrants in a temporary status for five years and then grant them a green card once they meet certain requirements, allowing them to apply for citizenship three years later.

It is still a poignant question whether the US passport will regain its power, or perhaps gain even more momentum under the Biden administration. But it is safe to say that with vastly different visa and immigration policies than the former President Trump, Biden’s vision of the future is built on uncompromising unity, equality, and diversity— calling on the power of democracy between nations and emphasizing the importance of strong global relationships. According to the Passport Index, the American passport currently is globally ranked in 20th place with a Mobility Score of 104, down 67 points since the COVID-19 pandemic.

In what is called “The Biden Plan for Securing Our Values as A Nation of Immigrants” President Biden makes the following statement about his view on immigration in the US: “Unless your ancestors were native to these shores, or forcibly enslaved and brought here as part of our original sin as a nation, most Americans can trace their family history back to a choice–a choice to leave behind everything that was familiar in search of new opportunities and a new life. Joe Biden understands that is an irrefutable source of our strength. Generations of immigrants have come to this country with little more than the clothes on their backs, the hope in their heart, and a desire to claim their own piece of the American Dream. It’s the reason we have constantly been able to renew ourselves, to grow better and stronger as a nation, and to meet new challenges. Immigration is essential to who we are as a nation, our core values, and our aspirations for our future. Under a Biden Administration, we will never turn our backs on who we are or that which makes us uniquely and proudly American. The United States deserves an immigration policy that reflects our highest values as a nation.”