Biden faces mounting pressure to protect immigrants before Trump takes office

President Joe Biden is facing mounting pressure from Democratic lawmakers and allies to extend protections to immigrants in the United States amid party fears over President-elect Donald Trump’s promise of mass deportations.

President Joe Biden is facing mounting pressure from Democratic lawmakers and allies to extend protections to immigrants in the United States amid party fears over President-elect Donald Trump’s promise of mass deportations. Behind the scenes, senior Biden administration officials are wrestling with what, if anything, more can be done to protect certain immigrants residing in the United States, juggling demands from allies and trying to avoid overreaching on an issue that, some political strategists argue, cost Democrats the White House. Immigration dogged Biden for the better part of his administration and was among the top issues for voters in the 2024 presidential election, many of whom disapproved of the president’s handling of the US-Mexico border. That reality is, in part, shaping the discussion internally. “The paradigm has shifted,” a senior administration official told CNN, referring to the political landscape over the last two years. Officials, grappling with the electoral results, are assessing what can be done without inviting fierce backlash. But Democrats, concerned about Trump’s immigration plans, are clamoring for Biden to do more for the immigrant community, as advocates express frustration over the administration pressing forward with strict asylum rules while other actions remain in limbo. “They’re afraid of their own shadow on this issue,” said a Democratic congressional aide.