President Biden said Thursday the United States is ready to welcome up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees. Over 3.6 million Ukrainians have fled since Russia’s invasion began one month ago. Meanwhile, advocates continue to denounce the Biden administration’s mass deportations of Haitian asylum seekers. Human Rights Watch is urging the U.S. government to halt the removals, warning Haitians are being sent back to a humanitarian crisis, alarming levels of gang violence and political instability.
In related news, the Biden administration has announced it will expedite asylum processing at the U.S.-Mexico border. The move will allow immigration agents at border ports of entry to conduct “credible fear screenings” of asylum seekers. If they pass, asylum seekers wouldn’t be subjected to immediate removal from the U.S. However, immigrant justice advocates warn the new policy could lead to unfair asylum decisions and more speedy deportations.