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For Vanessa Crdenas, executive director of Americas Voice, an immigrant advocacy group, what we have seen from Biden lately has been really, really disappointing. Biden came to the White House after campaigning on one of the most, if not the most, progressive immigration platforms that we have seen, Crdenas said. She told me in an interview that many of her fellow immigration advocates describe that time as thrilling. I think he wants to be a transformational president when it comes to this issue because he cares about his legacy, Crdenas told me.

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But it has been quite frustrating that Biden has reneged on his promise to restore asylum at the border, Crdenas said Monday. Biden was such a defender of asylum and so eloquently spoke about why [Trumps former anti-asylum policies] were against our values and who we are.

Two years and change into his presidency, Biden has not been transformational on immigration. For one, it appears that who we are is a nation that balks at international asylum obligations, with some Senate Democrats claiming some of Bidens current policies ongoing restrictions at the border to limit arrivals in light of a surge in migrant flows to the United States violate US law.

As an advocate who has worked on these issues for a couple of decades, I really wanted more, said Jennie Murray, president and CEO of the National Immigration Forum, another immigrant advocacy nonprofit, Its half good and half concerning. Murray pointed to family detention, and a focus on deterrence and enforcement at the border, as part of the concerns. It was shocking because [those policies] have never been successful, she said.

It seems like Biden has used a two steps forward, one step back type of approach to immigration policy. In terms of successes, both Crdenas and Murray pointed to the massive expansion of humanitarian parole programs to help Afghan evacuees, Ukrainians, and, most recently, Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans. According to the New York Times, as of mid-April, roughly 300,000 Ukrainians had come to the United States and, by the end of 2023, some 360,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans are expected to be authorized to move here in what the Times called a new back door on immigration that Biden opened.

Indeed, this administration has led an impressive scaling up of humanitarian parole, an underrated discretional tool from the federal government. On one level, its a testament to our governments capacity to be creative. On another, according to Crdenas, its consistent with research that shows Americans support for a compassionate immigration system. Americans are stepping up and saying, yes, we want to sponsor folks; yes, we want to help people; yes, we want to help them integrate. And thats reflected in surveys, said Murray. Last month 79 percent of Evangelicals said they want humane and orderly opportunities for folks that are fleeing violence and other factors, she said.

Biden will reportedly name Julie Chvez Rodrguez, the daughter of late labor leader Cesar Chavez, as his campaign manager, which is regarded by Latino and immigrant advocates as a great move. Will Biden try a Hail Mary like Obama did in 2012? The political landscape probably wont allow it. We were divided then, but this is divided, Murray said, referring to current polarization levels. If Biden does something, it would be something pragmatic, not sweeping, such as expanding TPS, the temporary protected status extended to certain nationals of countries in distress, Crdenas said.

If Biden moves forward with a plan or executive order, it may help his 2024 reelection bid, but it will be greeted by the Republican reflex reaction of fear and loathing. Thats what makes common-sense immigration reform so difficult: In a country of immigrants, newcomers are treated like political pawns.

Marcela Garca is a Globe columnist. She can be reached at marcela.garcia@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @marcela_elisa and on Instagram @marcela_elisa.

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The implications of Biden's lackluster record on immigration for his ... - The Boston Globe