Thread by @FrankSharry

Thread. Some thoughts in response to today's immigration developments: Biden raised refugee cap to 62,500 on way to 125,000 and family reunification task force is bringing separated parents to the US on 3-yr parole with work permits. What does it mean? /1

It means Biden is back on offense when it comes to immigration. He’s weathered the concerted drive by the rightwing to tag him w the so-called “Biden border crisis.” He's weathered the beltway punditry who adopted the RW narrative. /2

20,000 kids seeking safety from harm in an America that describes itself as a beacon of hope, and many in the media call it a "crisis?" What bullshit. They should be asking why we are not holding parades for them, and does it have anything to do with the color of their skin. /3

Under pressure to "turn off the spigot” as if migration from Central America starts at our southern border, the WH seemed to put pro-immigrant moves on hold. No lifting of the refugee cap. No TPS. No unwinding of Title 42, etc. I won't lie... /4

I expected them to do what every other administration - from both parties - has done over the past four decades has done when faced with a spike in Central Americans: reach for cruel deterrence. It's politically expedient. The pundits support it precisely because of that. /5

To their credit, the WH resisted it. They stayed the course. They are managing their way through the challenge in a relatively humane manner. It's working. The numbers are down, the kids in Border Patrol stations is way down, and they are placing kids safely with family. /6

So, yeah. Biden hesitated. You can almost hear him. No refugee cap. No big moves. Too much bad press. Too many calls from scared Democrats. He could have added, too much ludicrous commentary on the President's "messaging." But then keeping Trump's refugee cap backfires; /7

the admin's "humane and orderly" approach at the border begins to work; and beltway MSM types stop hyping Foxlandia's "border crisis" BS. Biden shifts. He leans in on his speech, he lifts the refugee cap as promised, and the admin reunites separated families here in the US. /8

Let's hope this shift is the mark of restart. Let's hope it means Biden will blow past the bad faith noise machine on the right, ignore the beltway pundits trying to boss him, and gets done what the Democratic coalition that elected him wants: /9

Reunite separated families, welcome refugees, end T42, create fair shot asylum process, reform the bloated enforcement, and fight for pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants - Dreamers, TPS holders, farm workers, and essential workers. Go big, WH. It works. END