|
Immigration to the United States from overseas has been significantly hampered due to policies that were established by the prior administration. Indeed, during the Trump Administration the U.S. closed its doors to several individuals based on their religion, their country of origin, their wealth, and their health. The final challenge was seen during the COVID-19 global pandemic in which America delayed and stopped immigration for more than a year through imposing travel bans and closures of the U.S. embassies and consulates.
Despite rescinding certain travel bans, President Biden resurrected regional travel bans under the guise of COVID-19, exacerbating already crisis-level immigrant and nonimmigrant visa backlogs and visa processing delays at the Department of State (DOS).
Now that the COVID-19 pandemic seems to be faced by modern science, it is time for America to reopen its borders and for DOS to get back to business. As U.S. embassies and consulates around the world were shut down due to the pandemic, DOS suffered significant financial difficulties, just like many other businesses around the world. Notwithstanding significant budget constraints, DOS has historically found ingenious ways to provide high-volume, world-class, and efficient consular services to U.S. citizens and visa applicants around the globe.
In order to solve this immigration backlog, AILA provides this policy brief to offer sensible policies and procedures that DOS can use to ensure the continued efficient function of DOS beyond the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Click the following link to read AILA's policy brief:
Policy Brief: Reopening America - How DOS Can Reduce Delays and Eliminate Backlogs and Inefficiencies to Create a Welcoming America
| 
