Biden plans an executive blitz including immigration orders

The New York Times reports that President-elect Biden plans to begin his presidency with an “executive blitz” which will include immigration orders and legislation. According to the Times, Biden “plans to open his administration with dozens of executive directives on top of expansive legislative proposals in a 10-day blitz.”

The Times also writes that the executive actions to be implemented on day one of the Biden presidency include “rescinding the travel ban on several predominantly Muslim countries” and “ordering agencies to figure out how to reunite children separated from families after crossing the border.” These initiatives would undo two of the most controversial parts of Trump’s immigration policy: family separation and the “muslim ban.”

More surprisingly, Biden “also plans to send sweeping immigration legislation on his first day in office providing a pathway to citizenship for 11 million people in the country illegally.” Immigration reform did not play a central role in Biden’s presidential campaign, but to send immigration reform to Congress at the beginning of his administration would be a clear message that immigration issues will be a priority for the incoming administration.

In many previous administrations, immigration has been a secondary consideration as well as a controversial topic. This has made it difficult for Congress to pass. Time will tell if immigration reform can be passed with the current Congress.