In a recent interview, a former advisor suggested that President Joe Biden’s immigration strategy includes a significant pardon for undocumented individuals, which could alter the demographic landscape in favor of Democratic support.
According to reports, the Trump administration has started to tackle the so-called “quiet pardon” loophole that involved administrative closures of cases.
These closures are now under review, as the administration seeks to address whether certain undocumented individuals should remain in the country.
In the interview, the advisor emphasized that the federal government needs to reconsider “limiting administrative closures.”
“Jeff Sessions made some strong points about the necessity of restricting these closures,” the advisor commented, noting that former Attorney General Merrick Garland later modified these approaches for practical use.
He reflected on the challenges faced by immigration courts, admitting, “I felt the pressure to act quickly, and if I were in the mix, I would consider legal action.”
The advisor pointed out that the Biden administration appears intent on pressuring the immigration system to issue pardons for millions of undocumented people.
“It seems like they’re striving to gain a broader base of support from the undocumented population,” he noted. “Their long-term aim seems to be granting pardons and citizenship, possibly reshaping demographics across various regions.”
However, he also highlighted the achievements of the Trump administration in curbing illegal immigration, claiming, “Under Trump and Secretary Noem’s leadership, impressive measures have been taken to manage immigration effectively.”
Research has shown a correlation between higher foreign-born populations in a region and increased support for Democratic candidates.
In particular, a survey prior to the 2024 election indicated strong backing for Trump among newly naturalized voters embracing Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate.
The National Partnership for New Americans reported that 55% of naturalized citizen voters expressed their intent to back Harris, compared to 41% who indicated support for Trump.
By late 2023, the Biden administration’s efforts towards naturalization had apparently positioned newly naturalized voters to have significant influence in the elections.
In a 2019 analysis, it was found that nearly 90% of Congressional districts with higher than average foreign-born populations leaned Democratic, indicating a strong trend in electoral outcomes.
Publications such as the Washington Post and others noted that demographic shifts driven by immigration are contributing to a potential permanent Democratic majority.
In 2019, Axios summarized, “The most significant threat to the long-term prospects of Republicans is demographic change.”
