Regardless of which candidate wins the presidential election next month, the fact is that the Trump administration has left an indelible mark on the immigration process. The administration’s policies of family separation at the border and attempted repeal of the protections offered to those with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status, the so-called “Dreamers,” have adversely impacted the country’s immigration system.
So, too, have the backlogged cases that have the immigration system bursting at its seams.
Some of the effects of Trump’s policies would be difficult to erase. But perhaps the biggest hurdle to overcome is the uncertainty and fear that was fomented in immigrant communities here in California due to the fear of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and having someone “drop a dime” on those immigrants who dare to emerge from shadowy refuges to try to work.
California State Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra, who is also the son of Mexican immigrants, has sued this administration — usually over immigration matters — in excess of 100 times. As the first Latino serving as California’s top lawyer, Becerra spoke out, stating, “I never expected to have to sue the president. We don’t sue Donald Trump because it’s easy or fun…. If he wouldn’t break the law, we wouldn’t take him to court.”
Should Biden win the election and become our nation’s 46th president, he has already pledged to cooperate with Congress to secure a permanent legislative replacement for DACA. He has also stated he wants to find a legal path to citizenship for an estimated 10.5 million immigrants living here in the United States without proper documentation.
Regardless of who wins or loses the election, those seeking legal status to remain in the U.S. should work closely with their immigration law attorney to stay apprised of all changes to the law.
