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Immigration in the 2020 Presidential Election -Everything You Need to Know
By Jessica Henderson, Natalie Hernandez, Andrew Martinez
May 11, 2020
In a world where the country is on its heels when it comes to immigration issues, it’s little to no surprise that front runners in the 2020 Democratic campaign for the presidency have made immigration reform a centerpiece of their campaigns.
In the year of the presidential election, the administration of the current U.S. President Donald Trump has been plagued by allegations of human rights violations, discriminatory profiling, and poor conditions and abuse in ICE Detention Centers. Immigration policy and the aftermath of each will continue to be a precedent that determines how people will remember the first four years of a Trump presidency and whether they will give their vote to him or Joe Biden who, as of April 2020, is the Democratic Party candidate who will face off against Trump in the upcoming presidential election.
Immigration, especially from the southern border, has always been a hot topic of discussion in the United States, and has only grown within the past four years under the current presidency.
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“We are a nation of immigrants… we even describe ourselves as a nation of immigrants,” said Nancy Wright, a professor who teaches comparative politics at Pace University. “To have immigration suddenly be something that is questioned is very contradictory.”
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Who’s Running – Candidates Views on Immigration
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Joe Biden
Joe Biden giving a speech photo by Gage Skidmore
Joe Biden’s approach to immigration is strongly rooted in upholding the policies and beliefs enforced during the Obama Administration, something that Dr. Wright believed people will be expecting him to maintain if he gets elected. He has promised the American people that when elected, he will take urgent action to "undo Trump’s damage and reclaim America’s values as immigrants for immigrants."
“He [Biden] is more moderate, more conservative,” said Dr. Wright. “He supported certain restrictions [on immigrants] in the past as well, including when he was a senator. But, if Biden wins, in the initial years, I think he will make a concerted effort to depart from the Trump administration because people have their hopes on that.”
Credit Joe Biden twitter account @JoeBiden.
One of the immigration issues that Biden showed support for was the status of the Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
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"The Rule of Law is the rule of equity and there are such things as equity,” Biden said during an interview with CNN on February 6, 2018, before he announced he was running for president. “And there is no equity in sending 1.9 million kids who have been here for the bulk of their lives who didn’t come here voluntarily and have abided by the laws and made great contributions to America.”
However, several controversies have risen throughout the 2020 primary debates over Biden’s immigration track record while Vice President. Under the Obama Administration, 3 million immigrants were deported, the most ever in United States history.
President Obama walks with VP Joe Biden, by Pete Souza.
Biden stands strongly behind the decisions under former President Obama and has referenced several times that the actions of our current administration should not be compared to past deportation methods.
“Obama was tough on immigration, but Trump’s Administration's policies have been
punitive and personal,” said Heather Novak, Pace University professor of political science and Director for the Center for Community Action and Research. “Separating families by incarcerating them or taking their children is inhumane no matter how you look at it.”
Although Biden promises to continue the legislation and reinforce actions from the Obama era, he has often avoided the discussion of deportations unless, as he believes, the immigrant was criminally unlawful.
Rather, as he mentioned during the June 27th, 2019 Democratic Debate, “We should not be locking people up. We should be making sure we change the circumstances and figure out why they would leave in the first place.”
Bernie Sanders
An Instagram snapshot from Bernie Sanders announcing the suspension of his campaign.
While Biden will be the respective democratic nominee, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders will remain on the ballot. Sanders suspended his campaign on April 8, 2020. He explained his campaign decision to remain on the ballot in an interview with Judy Woodruff from PBS News hour, "We would like to get as many delegates as we can so that we have a stronger position at the Democratic Convention to help us shape the new platform of the Democratic Party and the other issues that the DNC deals with."
Bernie Sanders at a presidential campaign by Phil Roeder.
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Bernie Sanders’ approach to immigration in the U.S. is deliberately detailed on his campaign website to evoke immediate action on the crisis. Sanders’ proposals are radically different from current Trump approaches, calling for a moratorium within the first 100 days in office on all deportations until a thorough audit of all past practices and policies is complete.
Sanders looks to reshape and reform immigration enforcement systems, such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). However, some Homeland Security officials have commented that Sander’s progressive immigration reform plans would create a surge in illegal immigration since there would be no fear of consequences and would make it more difficult to track how long people have been in the country.
Credit Bernie Sanders Twitter @BernieSanders.
Credit Bernie Sanders Instagram @BernieSanders.
Sanders is also an avid supporter of Health Care for All, a benefit that he plans to include immigrants on. He plans to reinstate and expand DACA, “ensuring that the 85 percent of those undocumented immigrants who have lived, worked, and contributed in America for five or more years can live their life without fear of deportation,” according to Bernie Sanders Campaign website.
Donald Trump
President Donald Trump speaking at the 2017 Conservative Political Action Conference by Gage Skidmore
Aside from boosting feats such as low unemployment rates and increased jobs, at the core of Trump’s 2020 campaign message, he gloats about deportation numbers, drug seizures, and border wall progress.
Harsher immigration reform has been the focus of his agenda since the start of his 2016 campaign days that has created a language and culture that many supporters use when talking about immigration. These include but are not limited to phrases like “Drain the swamp,” which is a metaphor that means to root out corruption.
Credit Donald Trump Twitter @realDonaldTrump
Many have criticized President Trump's rhetoric. One reporter, Ron Elving writing for NPR said, “He has also tapped into one of the oldest strains in our politics — the fear and vilification of immigrants and their descendants.” Elving continues discussing Trump's motivations in his rhetoric stating, “At times, the motivations have been economic, focusing on the competition for jobs and such social goods as housing or welfare programs. But there has also been a recurrent theme of cultural differences – an emphasis on characteristics of religion or language that identify new arrivals as "the other."
Donald J. Trump holding a rally in Panama City Beach, Florida, on May 8, 2019 photo from Office of the President of the United States/Donald J. Trump
The labeling of “otherness” is something that has rallied his supporters, many viewing him as a voice for people who have been in the dark and have hidden those opinions for fear of being politically incorrect.
Credit Donald Trump Twitter @realDonaldTrump
This is not something that is new to United States history explains Assistant Political Science Professor at Pace University Dr. Kiku Huckle, “I don’t think that the United States is unique in that but as immigration patterns change through generations, you always have someone new to be concerned about,” she said, “You forget that we used to hate Italians, we used to hate the Irish, we hated the Germans, we hate Jewish people, we hated Chinese people, we hated Japanese people, name anybody that we now consider ‘solidly in’ within American society. I will tell you a time in history when that group was hated and thought as dirty, criminals, diseased, untrustworthy, disloyal, whatever the case may be. That impression only changed as immigration patterns changed and we had more of those groups and there was a lot more integration.”
“I think Immigrants have experienced solidarity within the United States among people who are critical of Trump's policies,” explains Dr. Wright. “For the people who support Trump, I think he has reassured stereotypes for people who support him ideologically.”
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It comes to no surprise, that a non-traditional candidate like Trump has shaken up the political sphere.
The Trump Presidency – The Defining Moments
President Donald Trump at a Make America Great Again rally in Johnson City, Tenn., on Oct. 1, 2018. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)
Amid the panic and struggles the Coronavirus outbreak has caused the United States, the discussion of immigration and controversial deportations has shifted to media coverage on COVID-19.
“Right now people are still concentrating on when the curve will flatten and when we can get back to some kind of life, but it will never be normal, it will be mute from all the changes that have happened and with businesses and people who are without jobs,” said Dr. Wright. “And this is one thing I’m concerned about, will immigrants become a target?
On April 20 during a Coronavirus press conference, President Trump announced that he will suspend immigration into the United States. In a tweet by President Trump, he wrote that the Executive order was made in part to “attack the invisible enemy” and to “… Protect the jobs of the GREAT American people.”
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The order is titled the "Suspension of Entry of Immigrants Who Present a Risk to the United States Labor Market During the Economic Recovery Following the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Outbreak." The executive order puts a 60-day ban on green cards for most immigrants due to the coronavirus crisis. President Trump said he plans to "temporarily suspend immigration into the United States," as the coronavirus will have an economic toll on the United States.
Credit Donald Trump Twitter @realDonaldTrump
The implementation of this Executive order is expected to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus across borders as well as help United States citizens who have lost their jobs due to the Coronavirus outbreak or those that are looking for work during the current crisis. However, some remain skeptical of the effectiveness and ethics behind the order.
“Just look at the fact that immigrants are currently acting as essential workers, without protection or recompense which is making it possible for people to stay home. This is, at the same time, as people are being detained or deported. People being separated from their families is personal,” said Professor Novak.
“What nobody really wants to talk about is the fact that the United States cannot operate without a large population of low-wage laborers, and the people who often fit that or fill that need for us are the unauthorized workers,” said Dr. Huckle.
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As mentioned in an NBC article following the official signing, the Executive order also impacts immigrants who are seeking green cards. Much like legal citizens, a majority of immigrants who are already in the United States seeking green cards also pay federal and state taxes, have lost their jobs, are eligible for certain benefits that come with the Coronavirus relief packages.
The ‘Public Charge’ rule that was implemented in January of this year, has also complicated processes for immigrants to obtain citizenship, especially those classified as low income or immigrants that rely on public assistance.
It has been said that the new ‘Public Charge’ rule was created to stimulate the economy through limitations of those requiring government assistance and allow natural-born United States citizens to receive these benefits. However, a document on www.federalregister.gov, states that this is not the case.
The document imposes that this rule is meant to encourage the principles of ‘self-sufficiency’ set in place in the United States.
Because of recent state shutdowns, many immigrants have found themselves without jobs or assistance. This could potentially have an impact on those immigrants who were approaching the next steps to receive a
Credit Steven Horsford Twitter @RepHorsford
green card or those hoping to get a green card in the future because of the financial impact the Coronavirus outbreak is having on the United States.
Dr. Huckle explains, “We are going to reach a point that if Trump is successful in dramatically reducing the number of immigrants, legal and otherwise, in this country, particularly when thinking about the economical effects from coronavirus, our economy...would come to a screeching halt.”
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While the Trump administration has made immigration in a time of a major pandemic the focus, it comes to no surprise since the administration has had a lengthy and controversial relationship with immigration policy.
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When the then-president-elect announced his campaign for the presidency in 2015, one of his major promises was to secure the border. The highlight promise of the campaign was to build a tall border wall and “make Mexico pay for it." When president-elect Trump was inaugurated on January 20, 2017, the world had their eyes peeled on what he would do as president in his first 100 days.
Seven days into his presidency, Donald Trump implemented his first executive order as president. On January 27, 2017 president Trump enacted a travel ban, also known as Executive Order #13769 “Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States.”
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The travel ban was met with criticisms as many felt the ban was discriminatory, as most countries included had prominent Muslim populations. In 2017, The Guardian reported, “the US would favor religious minorities when travel from the seven countries is reopened, and in an interview to be broadcast on Sunday Trump said he would favor Christians.” Protests broke out across the United States, forever cementing President Trump's first executive order as president as the “Muslim Ban.”
In addition to the administration's controversial actions towards current immigrants in the U.S, there have been recent plans of reworking the terms and conditions of Temporary Protection Status (TPS).
Photo from the Emergency protest against Muslim ban at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport's McNamara Terminal on 29 January 2017. Photo by Gregory Varnum.
The Trump Administration has been trying to reduce and limit the number of countries that qualify for temporary protection status through a series of lawsuits. Once an individual is granted temporary protection status they may no longer be removed from the United States, may apply for an employment authorization document which will allow them to get a job in the United States, and possibly be granted travel authorization. An individual who has been granted temporary protection status also may not be detained by the Department of Homeland Security based on their immigration status. Foreign countries currently affected are El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. There is an extensive list of other conditions and requirements listed on the U.S Homeland Security's website.
“Protesters marching in support of immigrants - The protesters called for the end of deportations, the Muslim travel ban, and discrimination against undocumented immigrants. They spoke in support of DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and TPS (Temporary Protected Status) for countries like El Salvador and Haiti.” Photo and caption credit - Fibonacci Blue
With no doubt, unauthorized immigrants have always been fearful of exposing themselves to the cross-hairs of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). However, it seems that the anti-immigrant agenda that has built up in the past four years has had large effects on all types of immigrants in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
As the past few weeks have unfolded new regulations and orders to help mitigate the crisis, it seems to have also stripped away benefits to immigrants, some who are essential workers. According to a New York Times report, many immigrants are even fearful to seek medical assistance as a result of the growth in anti-immigration culture in the United States, and would rather risk their health than risk being deported.
Dr. Wright comments that “Whether you are undocumented or illegal or for that matter whether you are a criminal, there are certain basic innate rights to emergency health care.”
During the time of a major pandemic that is affecting the human race on a global scale, it begs the question of whether or not a person's status should be a determining factor of whether they can or can not receive medical care.
The Travel Ban, Public Charge Rule, discussion on TPS, and after-effects of the coronavirus pandemic are just some examples that will define the Trump Administration's immigration legacy. To see an extensive timeline of the Trump Administration federal policy on immigration click here.
Where Do We Go From Here?
Voter signage - California October 23, 2008 -- Photo by Tom Arthur
To many, the United States of America is defined as a melting pot and is a culture that thrives off of the differences of its people. No matter where you fall on the political spectrum, immigration is a topic that will continue to be at the forefront of the political sphere.
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The first step to being involved in politics is to educate yourself on what politics are and to define your guiding principles in regard to your political view.
Credit Free Speech For People Twitter @FSFP
So how can students get involved if they are unhappy with the outcome of the 2016 election and how things are going in the country? Or what can they do if they want to see the current administration's plans continue?
We asked students why they vote...here's what they had to say
Heather Novak says voting is at the heart of change. “Register to vote, educate yourself, show up to vote (fill out an absentee ballot if you can) and show up in your community in any way you can,” she says, “There are a lot of local issues happening and you can have an impact on that by reaching out to your elected officials.”
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“Go out and vote and make it known that you are voting. Read up on the issues because a lack of young voter participation has consistently plagued past U.S elections,” said Dr. Huckle. “The decisions that are being made now are shaping what your adulthood will look like. So look into what the issues are being talked about and what issues should be talked about. And if you find whatever issue you are most passionate about, get involved”
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With November 3, 2020 just around the corner, the 2020 election is shaping up to one that the world will be watching -- with immigration being at the forefront of many future conversations to come. If you would like more information on how to register to vote or how to engage in political efficacy, click here.