U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) on Friday (Jan. 22) urged the Biden administration to clarify the 100-day moratorium on deportations and other immigration enforcement measures. Rubio argued that these aggressive immigration orders would allow violent criminals to remain in the United States.
“I am concerned that these types of orders will prevent the removal of illegal immigrants who are subject to deportation under existing removal orders, including those with serious criminal records and convictions for violent crimes such as rape, sexual assault and other felonies.” Rubio said in a letter to Acting Homeland Security Secretary David Pekoske.
“It is deeply troubling that one of the first actions taken by the Biden Administration could undermine the safety and security of all Americans, including immigrants.” Rubio said.
During his presidential campaign, Biden promised to order a 100-day moratorium on all Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportations if elected. On Wednesday (Jan. 20), hours after Biden’s inauguration, Pecoske signed a memo reviewing immigration enforcement policies. The memo includes a 100-day moratorium on deportations of certain non-U.S. citizens, beginning Friday.
In his letter, Rubio asked, “Does this mean that people convicted of ‘serious crimes,’ including rape or sexual abuse of minors, will not be prioritized for deportation if they are released from prison on or before Jan. 19, 2021?”
He went on to ask: Would the deportation moratorium also apply to felons released on or before Jan. 19?
There are only a few exceptions to this suspension of deportation: those who, according to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) director’s investigation, have engaged in terrorism, espionage or pose a threat to national security will not be exempt from deportation. In addition, those who are not in the United States by November 1, 2020, and who have agreed to waive their right to remain in the United States, and who the ICE Director determines are subject to removal under the law, are also not exempt from removal.
The suspension of deportation is just one of Biden’s multiple immigration orders. Biden has signed an order halting construction of a border wall at the southern border, and the administration will look at ways to reallocate funds originally allocated for the wall.
Biden also signed a memorandum to protect and strengthen protections for Dreamers, DACA holders of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
DACA holders are illegal immigrants who entered the United States illegally with their Parents at an early age.
Biden is also pushing for a comprehensive immigration plan that includes Amnesty for 11 million illegal immigrants and a pathway for them to gain U.S. status.
“There are many issues I think we can work with President Biden on, but a comprehensive amnesty for illegal aliens would not be one of them.” Rubio said in a statement.
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