Immigration news

Alejandro Mayorkas, the new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary, led an entourage of Biden officials to the US-Mexico border recently to assess an increase in the number of border crossings, with Republicans warning that ‘a crisis is brewing’. Biden has sought to undo many of Donald Trump’s controversial US immigration policies.

 

The UK’s new post-study work visa will officially open for applications on 1 July, 2021 the Home Office has confirmed. The new visa will allow international students to remain in Britain following the completion of their studies for two or three years. 

 

Those with a bachelor’s degree can remain in the UK for an additional two years, while PhD graduates can stay for three years. The new post-study work visa route was first announced by the Department for education in 2019.

Joe Biden’s comprehensive US immigration bill has been delayed amid fears that it may not pass, according to several sources. House Democrats have postponed plans to vote on the US President’s bill after a whip count revealed that it could be rejected. 

 

Biden’s bill proposes a raft of sweeping changes, including a pathway to US citizenship for an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants. Republicans have argued that such a measure would spark a surge of new migrants heading for the US border.

Rishi Sunak’s recent Budget announcement introduced a new ‘elite visa’ that will be created to attract tech entrepreneurs to the UK. Workpermit.com recently reported that the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer was expected to announce a new, tech-based visa. The new ‘elite points-based visa’ will form part of the UK government’s post-Brexit immigration system. 

 

The US immigration agency responsible for monitoring American borders is holding unaccompanied children for 77 hours on average, according to an exclusive CNN report. Internal Customs and Border Protection (CBP) documents show a growing trend in the arrest of unaccompanied children at the US border with Mexico.

 

The 77-hour average holding time, in facilities not designed for children, is more than the 72 hours allowed under US law. Over the last 21 days, the CBP US immigration agency has arrested approximately 340 children crossing the US-Mexico border alone. 

Following a video call between US President, Joe Biden, and Mexican President, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, a US work visa proposed for Mexico is reportedly ‘under consideration’. Lopez Obrador said: “The question of work visas was raised… and it will be analyzed.”

 

The Mexican leader said that his government had proposed the creation of a new version of the ‘Bracero’ program that was introduced during World War II, which would allow Mexicans to work legally in the United States.