Biden curtails immigration from key countries

President Biden said on Thursday that the United States will now prevent illegal immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela from crossing the southern border. For two years, the U.S. will accept a combined total of 30,000 migrants per month from those four countries passing through official ports of entry. As long as migrants from those countries are legally vetted, have sponsors, and have passed background checks, they’ll be able to work in the U.S.

Why those four countries? Migrants from those countries compose the majority of illegal border crossings into the U.S. Biden acknowledged these immigrants’ hardships before encouraging them to apply for legal U.S. entry. Biden calls the new process orderly, safe, and humane. He will take his first trip to the southern border as president this Sunday with a visit to El Paso, Texas.

Dig deeper: Read Addie Offereins’ report in WORLD Magazine about individuals and organizations helping Afghan refugees temporarily resettle in the United States.