Joe Biden expands protections for undocumented immigrants in a crucial electoral context – KNfins

Joe Biden expands protections for undocumented immigrants in a crucial electoral context

In a strategic move ahead of the elections, the Biden administration is set to announce an executive order this Tuesday (18th) that will allow certain spouses and children without U.S. citizenship to apply for legal permanent residency in the United States. This broad measure aims to provide protection from deportation for hundreds of thousands of people who have lived in the country for more than a decade.

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The initiative will guarantee legal status and security to approximately 500,000 American families, as well as around 50,000 minor children of non-stateless immigrants whose parents are married to U.S. citizens, according to a senior government official. This is one of the most substantial federal programs to support undocumented immigrants since the creation of DACA by then-President Barack Obama in 2012.

In a strategic move ahead of the elections, the Biden administration is set to announce an executive order this Tuesday (18th) that will allow certain spouses and children without U.S. citizenship to apply for legal permanent residency in the United States. This comprehensive measure aims to provide protection from deportation for hundreds of thousands of individuals who have lived in the country for over a decade.

The initiative is expected to guarantee legal status and security to around 500,000 American families, as well as approximately 50,000 minor children of non-state immigrants whose parents are married to U.S. citizens, according to a senior government official. This represents one of the most substantial federal programs to support undocumented immigrants since the implementation of DACA by then-President Barack Obama in 2012.

The announcement is intended to garner support from Latino voters in key states like Arizona, Nevada, and Georgia, which are seen as crucial for Biden’s re-election chances. The measure also serves as a gesture to immigration advocates and progressives, many of whom have sharply criticized Biden’s previous restrictive policies, including recent changes to asylum policy at the U.S. southern border.

The President will make the official announcement during an event at the White House on Tuesday (18th), coinciding with the 12th anniversary of DACA’s implementation.

Under current federal law, undocumented individuals who enter the United States and marry American citizens must typically first apply for conditional release before they can apply for legal residency. This process often requires them to leave the country, which can disrupt their careers and families and create uncertainties regarding their return.

The measure announced on Tuesday will allow these spouses to apply for legal permanent residency without having to leave the United States—a significant change that the Biden administration says aims to keep families together.

As CNN reported last week, the government has been considering this change.

To be eligible for the program, individuals must have lived in the United States for at least 10 years and be legally married to a U.S. citizen, as detailed in a statement from the White House. The application period will remain open until the end of summer.

Receiving a legal permanent residency permit, commonly known as a Green Card, enables immigrants to live and work legally in the United States.

The executive order announced on Tuesday, along with the broader immigration policy of the Biden administration, will be a central theme in the upcoming debate between Biden and his 2024 rival, former President Donald Trump. The announcement provides Biden with the opportunity to highlight the differences between his policies aimed at keeping families together and Trump’s heavily restrictive immigration policies. However, it could also give Trump a platform to accuse Biden of promoting amnesty for undocumented immigrants.

Last week, the President hinted at the measure, acknowledging that many immigration activists are not entirely satisfied with his current actions. “For those who criticize the actions I’ve taken as too strict, I ask for patience,” Biden said. “In the coming weeks—and when I say in the coming weeks, I mean it—I will discuss how we can make our immigration system fairer.”

Immigration advocates responded positively to Biden’s announcement. Todd Schulte, president of the immigration advocacy group FWD.us, praised the initiative: “By removing the barriers that separate spouses from their families, he can fulfill his promise to protect those affected by our flawed immigration laws.”

Schulte encouraged Biden to act decisively, stating that Americans from all political backgrounds support these responsible measures for individuals who have contributed to American communities over the years.

Immigration experts emphasize that those affected by the change are already eligible for Green Cards due to their marital status, but they can now apply from within the U.S. Previously, they had to apply outside the United States, and if they had been in the country illegally, they could have faced a 10-year ban.

The status change could affect up to 550,000 individuals, according to the Migration Policy Institute, enabling these individuals to seek better-paying jobs, which could bring significant economic benefits.

“If you are unauthorized, you are stuck in the shadow economy,” noted Muzaffar Chishti, a senior researcher at the Migration Policy Institute, in comments to CNN. “These are people with suppressed potential who could work freely wherever they want.”

Leading Republicans in the Senate sharply criticized Biden ahead of Tuesday’s announcement. Senate Republican leader John Thune accused the administration of creating more “pull factors” with the planned immigration measure. “They are increasing the incentives for people to come here illegally,” Thune stated. “I’m sure this will be challenged.”

Senator Thom Tillis, another Republican who deals with immigration issues in the Senate, stated that the best solution would be the passage of a bipartisan bill. Tillis voted against a bipartisan border security bill earlier this year.

Additionally, Biden is set to announce on Tuesday that his administration will ease the process for work visas for college graduates with high-skilled job offers.

President Biden faces sharp criticism from leading Senate Republicans regarding his immigration policy, particularly ahead of the crucial announcement on Tuesday. Senate Republican leader John Thune accuses the administration of creating more “pull factors,” which he believes encourage illegal immigration. “They are increasing the incentives for people to come here illegally,” Thune explained, highlighting the partisan divisions on this complex and politically sensitive issue.

Meanwhile, Senator Thom Tillis emphasized the need for bipartisan legislation as the best solution, despite his earlier disagreements on specific proposals. Biden is also planning to ease the process for work visas for college graduates with high-skilled job offers, an additional measure aimed at strengthening the U.S. labor market and economy.

The debate over immigration is expected to continue heatedly, highlighting the deep partisan divides over one of the country’s most complex and politically sensitive issues.

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Ella Bailey

an editor at KNfins since 2024.

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