Kebijakan imigrasi AS memiliki titik buta besar: perubahan iklim

Joe Biden’s term in office has seen significant action on climate change, although one aspect of his climate plan has failed. Despite acknowledging the impact of climate-driven disasters early on, little has been done to address the issue. As climate change and migration become more intertwined, US policy is ill-prepared for the challenges ahead.

With no legal protections in place for climate migrants, the US is failing those who are forced to flee ecological disasters. While Democrats have struggled on border issues and moved towards the right, Republicans aim to overhaul the immigration system entirely and strip away environmental regulations. Former President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris agreement has further complicated the situation. Vice President Kamala Harris has pledged to continue climate initiatives but has not addressed the issue of climate migrants.

Climate migration is already a reality, with millions displaced by disasters each year. As climate change worsens, hurricanes, wildfires, droughts, and other weather-related events are becoming more frequent and severe. These disasters can exacerbate existing issues and lead to international migration in some cases.

Despite the growing number of climate-related disasters, US immigration policy largely ignores the impact of climate change. Temporary Protected Status (TPS) offers limited protections for those affected by environmental catastrophes, but it is temporary and does not provide a pathway to permanent residency or citizenship. The policy is also subject to change with each new administration, as seen during Trump’s attempts to roll back TPS designations.

Biden’s initial promises to reverse harsh immigration policies were short-lived, as his administration adopted a stricter stance on border issues. Title 42, a pandemic-related asylum shutdown, remained in place during Biden’s first two years in office, and efforts to end the policy were met with legal challenges. The administration also introduced new policies that penalized migrants for unauthorized border crossings, further complicating the situation.

While Biden expanded temporary migration programs for certain groups, there are still no dedicated policies for climate migrants. The lack of action on this front highlights the disconnect between US immigration policy and the realities of climate change. As the impacts of climate change continue to worsen, it is essential for policymakers to address the needs of those forced to flee their homes due to environmental disasters.