(TargetLiberty.org) – A new exclusive report published by Reuters confirms the Biden administration is planning to ramp up resettlement of Ukrainian refugees into the United States. Reporters for the news outlet spoke to three key sources involved with the program. Each revealed important facts about the upcoming shift and how it might play out.
Expected Influx
At least one of the sources who spoke to Reuters, who is allegedly “familiar with the matter,” attributed the sudden decision to remove red tape after reviewing the Ukrainian refugee statistics from early March. The US apparently admitted just seven individuals from the region between March 1 and March 16.
According to the UN United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), around 3.7 million people fled Ukraine between February 24 and March 23. Those statistics represent just over 8% of the foreign country’s total population.
The administration allegedly intends to inject resources into heavily-burdened, pre-existing immigration processes to ease bureaucratic red tape. Increases in staffing, faster processing of visa applications, and more humanitarian parole applications are all on the table.
The same sources also told Reuters the Biden administration intends to prioritize people who face the most risk, including members of the LGBTQ community, social justice activists, reporters, and other sensitive minority groups. The government will also prioritize applications from relatives of existing US citizens and permanent residents.
Plans Continue to Unfold
President Joe Biden had yet to confirm the ramp-up rumors as of March 22, 2022. US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price did say during a March 20 press briefing officials were closely investigating how they could help with family reunifications.
The White House, for its part, initially referred Reuters’ reporters to DHS, who failed to respond. However, it has since published a memo confirming the existence of the plan and it hopes to provide refuge to approximately 100,000 Ukrainians. The Biden administration has also earmarked nearly $1 billion in aid for the war-torn region.
The change in pace comes on the heels of calls from legislators, political leaders, and citizens, many of whom feel the US should be doing more to help Ukraine in its time of need.
Concerns About Safety
President Joe Biden’s administration last attempted to ease the immigration process for refugees applying during and after the disastrous withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. According to a Washington Post exclusive, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) flagged at least 44 of the individuals who attempted to enter the US, citing national security concerns.
US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) retained custody of approximately 13 people as of September 2021. All faced FBI interviews or interventions from counterterrorism teams; information clarifying why isn’t publicly available. CBP turned another 15 people over to the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation across the pond.
Critics hold the same concerns now as they did back in August: rushing the vetting often requires cutting significant corners in the process. That raises the risk of officials inadvertently admitting someone who might be dangerous.
Many also fear the US cannot afford to provide so much help right now. Citizens are already struggling under extreme inflation and skyrocketing gas prices. Do the potential benefits really outweigh the risks in this scenario? Or, is this just another knee-jerk response?
Copyright 2022, TargetLiberty.org
