President Biden prolonged the Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) program, which protects Hong Kong residents within the U.S. from deportation, as a result of “elevated repression” from the Chinese language authorities, lower than two weeks earlier than it was set to run out.
“With this motion, we’re demonstrating once more President Biden’s robust help for the individuals of Hong Kong within the face of accelerating repression by the PRC,” the Nationwide Safety Council stated in a press release. “We proceed to strongly oppose the PRC’s use of its Nationwide Safety Legislation to disclaim the individuals of Hong Kong their human rights and basic freedoms, undermine Hong Kong’s autonomy, and chip away at Hong Kong’s remaining democratic processes and establishments.”
BIDEN SHIELDS HONG KONG IMMIGRANTS FROM REMOVAL, CITING CHINA’S ‘SIGNIFICANT EROSION’ OF RIGHTS
President Biden speaks about inflation and provide chain points in Los Angeles.
(AP Photograph/Damian Dovarganes)
The 2-year extension of this system implies that Hong Kong residents who would in any other case be deported for having overstayed the period of their authentic visas can stay within the U.S. till Jan. 26, 2025 with out being deported.
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This DED extension was designed for eligible Hong Kong residents who’re involved about returning to Hong Kong with a brief protected haven within the U.S.
DED beneficiaries are additionally eligible to use for employment authorization inside the U.S. throughout their prolonged keep.
A demonstrator waves a flag throughout a rally to point out help for Hong Kong pro-democracy protests at Free Sq. in Taipei on June 13, 2020.
(Sam Yeh / AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
In accordance with the united statesCitizenship and Immigration Providers (USCIS), Biden is ready to prolong the DED at his discretion.
Biden first prolonged the DED program to Hong Kong residents on Aug. 5, 2021, which deferred the deportation of Hong Kong residents for 18 months.
On the time, Biden stated the US needed to increase safety to Hong Kong residents from China’s imposition of the Nationwide Safety Legislation (NSL).
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“The US is dedicated to a overseas coverage that unites our democratic values with our overseas coverage objectives, which is centered on the protection of democracy and the promotion of human rights world wide.” Biden stated in a press release on Aug. 5.
The Biden administration first issued the deportation reprieve in Aug. 2021, as a result of considerations about “the numerous erosion” of rights and freedoms in Hong Kong.
The Chinese language authorities moved to stifle opposition following protests in Hong Kong in 2019 towards a proposed regulation permitting extraditions to mainland China. Underneath the nationwide safety regulation, which took impact in June 2020, police cracked down on opposition politicians, activists and demonstrators.
Hundreds of individuals attend a candlelight vigil in Hong Kong’s Victoria Park to mark the anniversary of the navy crackdown on a pro-democracy scholar motion in Beijing.
(AP Photograph/Kin Cheung, File)
Modifications have been additionally made to Hong Kong’s election legal guidelines to cut back the variety of immediately elected lawmakers and provides a largely pro-Beijing committee the leeway to appoint lawmakers aligned with the mainland authorities.
Liu Pengyu, spokesman for China’s embassy in Washington, stated in a press release that the Biden administration transfer additional uncovered the US’ “sinister intention” to undermine stability in Hong Kong and “comprise China’s improvement.”
“We urge the U.S. to cease interfering in Hong Kong affairs,” he stated.
Since China imposed its nationwide safety regulation, not less than 150 opposition politicians, activists and protesters have been taken into custody on politically motivated prices, together with secession, subversion, terrorist actions, and collusion with a overseas nation or exterior parts, in response to the White Home.
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Moreover, the White Home shared that 1,200 political prisoners are actually behind bars, and over 10,000 individuals have been arrested on different prices in reference to anti-government protests.
The Related Press contributed to this report.