BIDEN’S DILEMMA: MIGRANTS OR UKRAINE?
Pres. Biden, in order to get his Ukraine aid package through Congress, is being required by the Republican majority in the House and even some Democrats to put more restrictions on migration. Some of the ideas being discussed are: making asylum more difficult by raising the standard of proof for the need of asylum; restrictions on “humanitarian parole”, which has allowed thousands of Ukrainians and Afghans fleeing war to enter the US; deporting refugees; breaking apart families and other Trump-era policies. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) has called the measures under consideration ”throwing immigrants under the bus.”
Unfortunately, it is hard to see what would be an equitable immigration policy, whereas it is easy for many politicians to support aid for Ukraine, which not only appeals to those who champion a victim of aggression, but also those who favor an anti-Russian policy with origins in the Cold War.
Source: The New York Times, 12/16/23