Venezuelan asylum seeker Jhinezka de Arias holds her son Cristhofer at the bus station in Brownsville, Texas, on Feb. 25. Credit: Verónica G. Cárdenas for The Texas Tribune/ProPublica
Posted in Analysis Biden Administration Immigration

Border policy Is getting more and more convoluted. That’s creating false hope for migrants.

The Biden administration and the Mexican government have made the situation at the border so confusing that even seasoned experts can’t always determine who is allowed in and who isn’t. That may be contributing to the…

Click to read full article
Construction championed by then-President Donald Trump continued on a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border on January 12, 2021 in Sasabe, Arizona. (Photo: Micah Garen/Getty Images)
Posted in Biden Administration Border Wall News

Biden cancels Trump border wall projects using diverted funds

“Now they must commit to restoring protected public lands and sacred sites, and tearing down sections of wall.” by Jessica Corbett, staff writer May 1, 2021   Advocacy groups and politicians on Friday welcomed the Pentagon’s…

Click to read full article
Posted in Biden Administration Environment Indigenous News

‘Watershed moment’ as Haaland revokes Trump-era orders, creates climate task force

“Today’s orders make certain that the Interior Department is no longer going to serve as a rubber-stamp for the coal and oil and gas industries.”   by Jessica Corbett, staff writer   Friday, April 16, 2021…

Click to read full article
Posted in Analysis Biden Administration Immigration Unaccompanied Minors

“No good choices”: HHS Is cutting safety corners to move migrant kids out of overcrowded facilities

After ignoring signs that shelters were filling quickly, agencies are scrambling to get thousands of kids out of Border Patrol jails. But new “emergency” facilities skirt safety standards, while facilities accused of abuse are still getting…

Click to read full article
Posted in Biden Administration

Biden’s embrace of Trump-era fentanyl ban ‘threatens to repeat past missteps,’ critics warn

One expert urged policymakers to “rethink these efforts to double down on fear-based, enforcement-first approaches, and instead invest in public health alternatives.” by Kenny Stancil, staff writer April 14, 2021   After the Biden administration this…

Click to read full article
Posted in Biden Administration News

Schumer vows to push through ‘Republican obstruction’ and confirm Deb Haaland as Interior Secretary

The Senate majority leader said he “just filed cloture to move ahead” with the New Mexico congresswoman’s nomination. by Brett Wilkins, staff writer Tuesday, March 9, 2021 As Republican U.S. senators continued attempts to obstruct Rep….

Click to read full article
A U.S. Marine during the 2003-2011 Iraq War, which destroyed the country and killed hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and thousands of U.S. troops. (Photo: Cpl. Brian M. Henner/USMC/flickr/cc)
Posted in Analysis Biden Administration

Peace advocates welcome Biden move to limit war powers

‘We Need to Make Sure It’s Done Right’ The president and Congress, said one leading anti-war campaigner, “must work together to actually end the decades long fighting, killing, dying, and spending that is on automatic pilot.”…

Click to read full article
Posted in Biden Administration Immigration News

From ‘aliens’ to ‘noncitizens’ – the Biden administration is proposing to change a legal term to recognize the humanity of non-Americans

by Kevin Johnson, University of California, Davis Wednesday, February 24, 2021 If a proposed law passes, this group of immigrants apprehended at the U.S. border near Mission, Texas, would be called ‘noncitizens,’ not ‘aliens.’ Sergio Flores…

Click to read full article
Posted in Biden Administration News

After Trump was allowed to let lobbyist run Interior Dept., Manchin called to ‘Do what’s right’ and confirm Haaland

“The opposition to Congresswoman Haaland’s confirmation is narrow and guided by money, not the qualifications or historic importance of what the nomination of Deb Haaland will do for this country.” by Kenny Stancil, staff writer Tuesday,…

Click to read full article
Posted in Analysis Biden Administration Indigenous News

‘Indian Country’ is excited about the first Native American secretary of the interior – and the promise she has for addressing issues of importance to all Americans

by Traci Morris, Arizona State University Tuesday, February 16, 2021 U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland speaks in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Oct. 1, 2018. Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images President Biden’s nomination of U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland of…

Click to read full article
Posted in Biden Administration Politics

Deb Haaland faces GOP backlash over role in pipeline protests

Opposition to fracking and fossil fuel pipelines “are the exact reasons Deb Haaland is the right pick for Interior secretary,” said one advocacy group. by Jake Johnson, staff writer Tuesday, February 16, 2021 Republican Sen. John…

Click to read full article
Posted in Analysis Biden Administration Business Public Policy

The return of the Regulators

Like them or revile them, federal agencies seem poised to regain some of their traditional powers under the new administration. But it’s not clear how far President Biden wants them to go. by Jesse Eisinger, ProPublica…

Click to read full article
"For the 12 million Americans who are behind an average of $5,000 each on rent, even an eviction moratorium is not enough," over 200 national and community groups say in a new ad calling for housing debt cancellation published at USA Today says.
Posted in Biden Administration Evictions News

‘Eviction moratorium is not enough’: 200+ groups demand rent cancellation, debt relief

“To prevent an eviction disaster and the public health crisis that would come with it, we need immediate action that provides full debt relief.” by Andrea Germanos, staff writer Thursday, January 4, 2021 A diverse coalition…

Click to read full article
A sculpted bust of Cesar Chavez oversees a collection of personal framed photos on a table behind President Joe Biden's desk in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C.
Posted in Biden Administration Labor News

Biden boots ‘union busters and anti-government ideologues’ from key labor panel

Labor leaders called for replacements “with a background in labor-management relations who are not hostile toward unions.” by Jessica Corbett, staff writer Thursday, February 4, 2021 In another early win for organized labor, President Joe Biden…

Click to read full article
Demonstrators protest outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) headquarters to demand the release of immigran families in detention centers at risk during the coronavirus pandemic in Washington, D.C. on July 17, 2020.
Posted in Biden Administration Deportation ICE News

Despite Biden moratorium, ICE and CBP deport hundreds

‘Get These Agencies Under Control Immediately’ “Don’t. Look. Away. We can’t trust ICE and CBP, even if their boss is a Democrat.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Tuesday, February 2, 2021 “How many more lives must…

Click to read full article
Posted in Biden Administration News Republicans Restart 2021

As GOP Senators push smaller Covid-19 relief package, Dem leaders move to advance Biden’s bolder plan

“Congress must pursue a bold and robust course of action. It makes no sense to pinch pennies when so many Americans are struggling,” said the Senate majority leader. by Jessica Corbett, staff write Monday, February 1,…

Click to read full article
Activists participate in a rally urging the expansion of Social Security benefits in front of the White House on July 13, 2015 in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Posted in Biden Administration News Social Security

Biden withdraws Trump rule attacking Social Security Disability recipients

“Wonderful news,” said one activist. by Jake Johnson, staff writer Thursday, January 28, 2021 Social Security defenders on Thursday celebrated news that the Biden White House has withdrawn a regulation pushed by the Trump administration that,…

Click to read full article
Posted in Biden Administration COVID Reboot 2021 News

Biden orders on food aid heralded as ‘Most significant anti-hunger actions in modern times’

The expected executive action comes as “families are struggling with food insecurity like never before.” by Andrea Germanos, staff writer Friday, January 21 Social justice organizations and Democratic lawmakers on Friday welcomed President Joe Biden’s expected…

Click to read full article
Posted in Biden Administration Coronavirus News

Flurry of Biden orders on COVID-19 raise some doubts, but more hopes

by Jacob Holter, Cronkite News Washington, D.C.    Almost half of the 24 executive orders President Joe Biden has signed in his first two days in office have dealt with COVID-19, which White House officials cite as…

Click to read full article
Posted in Biden Administration Columns Wade Rathke

Replacing lead service lines – perfect infrastructure project

by Wade Rathke January 22, 2021 New Orleans    Recently, Social Policy was lucky enough to have fifty contributors offer ideas suggesting priorities for the new Biden administration. There were some amazing recommendations, and we’ll dig…

Click to read full article
Posted in Biden Administration FCC News

Biden pick of Rosenworcel to lead FCC out of carnage left by Ajit Pai

“She knows the FCC from the bottom up and she understands how to make good things happen there,” said one former Commissioner. by Brett Wilkins, staff writer Friday, January 22 Digital rights and other progressive groups…

Click to read full article
Posted in Biden Administration Labor News

Under pressure from workers, Biden fires anti-union labor board lawyer

“Today is a good day,” declared the SEIU, which had called on the president to immediately oust NLRB General Counsel Peter Robb. by Jessica Corbett, staff writer Thursday, January 21 Along with signing a slate of…

Click to read full article
Posted in Biden Administration Government News Politics

With Senate majority reclaimed, progressives demand bold agenda from Biden

‘No More Excuses’ “A working majority in both houses of Congress means that any decision to court Republican votes will be made by choice.” by Kenny Stancil, staff writer Friday, January 8, 2021 With President Donald…

Click to read full article
Posted in Biden Administration Climate change Interview

John Kerry, Biden’s Climate Czar, talks about saving the planet

In the months before the election, Joe Biden’s most influential voice on the issue of our age shared his views on climate migration, open borders, the threat of nationalism, and the challenge posed by China. by…

Click to read full article