Immigration a Top Priority at Today's North American Leader's Summit

• The key priority for Biden during today's North American Leader's Summit is to stem the tide of migrants trying to enter the U.S illegally, and to establish legal means by which they can immigrate.

A Focus on Immigration

• The summit will be a policy and strategy meeting between Biden, Justin Trudeau, and Mexican President  Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
• The talks come at a time of heightened migrant movement in the hemisphere, with thousands fleeing poverty and violence at home.
• Tuesday's summit is a reflection of the three leader's commitment to forging a regional response to migration, and sharing responsibility for monitoring the flow of people seeking asylum or a new start.

New Initiatives

• A senior official in the Biden administration told CNN: “The US, Mexico, and Canada will all commit to making it possible for migrants to access our legal pathways through one platform.”
• Biden is expected to launch a virtual platform that will serve as a resource for prospective migrants to learn about legal pathways for immigration and learn about their eligibility.
• This initiative will involve the opening a resource center in Tapachula, in southern Mexico, according to officials in the administration.
• Biden's administration wants to counter the misinformation that is provided by people smugglers, who often mislead migrants about American immigration policies and the difficulty of the journey.
• Some immigration advocates are worried that the portal system will be "inaccessible" to people facing poverty or housing insecurity.

—Emma Kansiz