Issue 32: April 3, 2023
In this issue...
We're covering new immigration enforcement plans by the Biden administration, a firsthand account of the Russo-Ukrainian war from a young Ukrainian refugee, displacement in Central Africa caused by Boko Haram, and the threat of deportation caused by recent widespread tech company layoffs in the US.
US Immigration Policy Update
By Will Frank
Since stepping into office in 2021, Joe Biden’s administration has claimed to seek to reverse many of the Trump-era restrictions on migration into the US. Joe Biden promised to increase refugee admissions, provide relief for deported immigrants, and reverse the Title 42 and public charge acts. However, recent updates to US migration policies have spurred controversy over Biden’s ability to keep his immigration promises.
Title 42 is a public health authority that allows the border officials to deny potential migrants entry into the United States in order to protect public health. According to a report from KFF, almost half of all State Department encounters with migrants at the border since the start of the pandemic have been dealt with under the authority of Title 42.
In his campaign, Biden promised to revoke the operation of Title 42, yet until recently, the court system had prevented such a policy change from occurring. On February 16, 2023, the Supreme Court ruled the discontinuation of Title 42 effective on May 11, 2023. With the end of Title 42, immigrants are more likely to be evaluated and processed through the immigration system rather than turned away immediately at the border.
The discontinuation of Title 42 obviously seems beneficial to those seeking refuge in the United States, yet Biden’s administration is seeking to implement new border restrictions. According to a White House press release published on March 9, 2023, the Biden administration seeks to allocate $25 billion for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, along with $535 million for border technology and $40 million for fentanyl protection in his new budget proposal.
The aim of this budget is to prevent illegal immigration into the United States and ensure a safe and lawful process of becoming an American citizen. However, critics worry that this increase in security will only make matters harder for lawful immigrants, as it may increase the time to process migrants.
Also included in Biden’s budget is $1.5 billion dedicated to the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) in order to help mitigate the 1.8 million immigrant cases still pending. This money will improve immigration courts and fund 150 new immigration judge teams in order to speed up the immigration process. According to the same White House press release published on March 9, 2023, the money will also invest new resources in legal programming for adults to give them fair representation in courts.
If you would like even more information about recent or past updates to the US migration policy, visit https://www.uscis.gov/laws-and-policy.
Anton Balyuk: A High Schooler’s Firsthand Account of the Ukrainian War
By Gina Zhao
Anton Balyuk was a Ukrainian high school student living in Kyiv during the first few months of the Ukrainian war. Now, just over a year after the war’s start, he shares his story.
“UrrrRRRRRRRRrrrrrr!” The blaring sound of air raid sirens disturbed the quiet morning of Kyiv, Ukraine on February 24, 2022, as Russian soldiers and tanks crept into the southern, northern, and eastern borders. The news' loud blasting of gunshots and explosions stirred Anton from his sleep, only to find his family gathered around the living room, staring with unforeseen panic at the TV: his world had forever changed.
For Anton, the night before Russia's invasion was hardly indicative of the next day's crisis, simply another night of cramming in review for the Physics exam amid the already packed high school homework. Although a number of his friends had left the country weeks before, sensing a looming air of potential warfare as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine escalated day by day, Anton and his family never anticipated that Putin would openly invade Ukraine, resulting in the displacement and suffering of millions of people.
With the Ukrainian government prohibiting men over 18 from crossing the border to keep enough people in the country to fight, Anton's trek to leave to study at the Middlesex School in the US in the summer of 2022 was anything but easy. Originally thought to be a college student over 18, the border control agency almost detained Anton. The officers' stern voice and Anton’s fear utterly overwhelmed him. Although Anton successfully departed the border after proving that he was under 18, his experience offered a glimpse into the challenges of Ukrainian citizens brought by the war.
Similar situations occur when Ukranians want to come back to the country. Anton explained that he only had meager hope to visit his friends whom he had not seen for almost a year in the summer of 2023. With no direct air traveling in Ukraine, Anton would have to fly 9 hours from the US to Poland and then drive 14 hours by car to reach the Ukrainian border. To Ukrainian refugees in other countries with minimal resources and income, traveling back to Ukraine became a near impossibility.
Like Anton, many of his friends felt the urge to leave the country after the war began. Some transferred mid-semester to study abroad, facing significant academic and social challenges of the abrupt changes. While others, unable to leave, remained in the country and tried "to return to the old, regular life." With electrical and water facilities bombarded by the war, people had to make their best out of the few hours of the day when the resources were available. Still, more Ukrainian refugees crowded the capital Kyiv, which had a better air defense system and was much safer. Leaving their home and original life behind, the refugees struggled to find new jobs and maintain their livelihood amidst unending warfare.
Despite all, Anton retains no hatred toward the Russian people. Having many Russian friends, Anton deeply understood that the misery of Ukrainian refugees could not be ascribed to the Russian public, as it was the government's decision alone. The most he and his family can do is to help the refugees, bringing and distributing supplies from abroad, shielding them from distress, and aiding the refugees to live as normally as they could.
If you would like to donate to help Ukrainian refugees, the following organizations are good options:
Boko Haram Continues to Cause Violence, Displacement in Nigeria with Little International Response
By Teddy Stevens
Boko Haram is a terrorist organization in West Africa. Because they believe the Nigerian government to be corrupt with “illusory” Muslims, they seek to create a “pure” Islamic state under sharia law by waging war against the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
How have Boko Haram’s activities disrupted Central African societies?
In August 2011, Boko Haram detonated a vehicle bomb at the UN site in Abuja, Nigeria. A report by the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) estimated the bombing killed 23 people and wounded at least 80. Since Boko Haram attacked the UN in 2011, their attacks and targets have only increased. The group started targeting public churches and schools. In March 2012, Boko Haram, in reaction to the arrest of many traditional “Tsangaya '' teachers that taught students to memorize the Quran, set ablaze twelve public schools in Maiduguri. A special report by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) estimated the fire disrupted at least 10,000 students’ education.
Boko Haram has also abducted hundreds of girls––primarily Christian ones––and forced them to convert to Islam. They’ve also utilized many female suicide bombers to cause catastrophic losses. According to a report from United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees (UNHCR), as of September 2022, Boko Haram’s attacks on villages and communities have created 343,000 Nigerian refugees, 3.1 million Internally Displaced people (IDPs) in Nigeria, and over 927,000 IDPs in Cameroon, Chad, and Niger. Most refugees flee to neighboring countries such as Cameroon and Niger, only to be sent back many times.
How are affected governments and the global community responding to this crisis?
The people of Nigeria and the global community hold minimal trust for the Nigerian government due to its inconsistency and poor overall approach to dealing with Boko Haram. The UNHCR and Cameroon have created many refugee camps and aid for refugees. Because the United States government and the Nigerian government are not on friendly terms, the United States has turned to neighboring countries to help with military efforts against Boko Haram, such as a resistance campaign in the Lake Chad region.
Despite the aid, millions of refugees still need help due to a destabilizing economy and the lack of nutrition and resources. However, you can help raise awareness against this crisis or donate to help the refugees.
Tech Company Layoffs Leave Migrant Workers on Brink of Deportation
By Davis Hale
Tech companies have looked abroad to fill their employment needs in recent years, and they have become reliant on workers supported by the H1-B visa program to fuel their growth. With Silicon Valley laying off many of its workers due to economic downturn and fear of a recession, many of these migrant workers find themselves without jobs and fearing deportation.
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H1-B visas are a form of specialty visas afforded those classified as having “specialty occupations, DOD cooperative research and development project workers, and fashion models,” according to US Citizenship and Immigration Services. These visas can last up to six years. If one loses their job while on a H1-B visa, they have just sixty days to find a new, similar job, or else have to vacate the country. Herein lies the problem.
Today, few companies are looking to hire workers who qualify for H1-B visas––many are instead laying off such workers. This reality creates an environment wherein it is nearly impossible for visa holders to find a job as there are few positions available for a very large candidate pool. Adding to the difficulty is the fact that one must find the job in just sixty days post-layoff, a time period which in many cases is simply not enough time. Furthermore, workers cannot just find any random job in the US, rather they have to find a job described as being similar to the old job and be in the same industry. All of this combined makes it nearly impossible for migrant workers who got laid-off to stay in the county.
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While it is hard to pinpoint exact numbers for how many H1-B visa holders have lost their jobs, it is reasonable to assume that the number is in the thousands. This reality not only may damage the economy in coming months, but also creates a crisis for these immigrants. Unfortunately, the sad reality is that other than finding a new job there is not much these H1-B visa holders can do. While workers can apply for a different form of immigration status such as being a Green Card holder, the transfer process can take anywhere from six to eighteen months, a time frame which unfortunately is too long for many laid-off workers who have just two months to sort out their situation. Many workers have moved to Canada where the immigration laws are much more lax or other western countries with similar employment opportunities. Still, others are forced to move back to their home countries and thus lose the opportunity that working in America provides.
Heartbreakingly, this issue has flown under the radar of major news outlets and has not garnered the attention it deserves. Even more upsetting is the fact that these immigrants have received little to no support from the US government. Corporations responsible for the layoffs also seem to be avoiding the issue as they refuse to talk about the problem they are creating. One of the best things that you can do to help with the crisis is to call or write to your local representative and senators and ask for them to help push forward legislation which would help create an easier path for these immigrants to gain a more permanent status in the States after being laid-off.