Share
WASHINGTON — President-elect Joe Biden plans to unveil a sweeping immigration bill on Day One of his administration, hoping to provide an eight-year path to citizenship for an estimated 11 million people living in the U.S. without legal status, a massive reversal from the Trump administration’s harsh immigration policies.
The legislation puts Biden on track to deliver on a major campaign promise important to Latino voters and other immigrant communities after four years of President Donald Trump’s restrictive policies and mass deportations. It provides one of the fastest pathways to citizenship for those living without legal status of any measure in recent years, but it fails to include the traditional trade-off of enhanced border security favored by many Republicans, putting passage in a narrowly divided Congress in doubt.
Expected to run hundreds of pages, the bill is set to be introduced after Biden takes the oath of office Wednesday, according to a person familiar with the legislation and granted anonymity to discuss it.
As a candidate, Biden called Trump’s actions on immigration an “unrelenting assault” on American values and said he would “undo the damage” while continuing to maintain border enforcement.
Under the legislation, those living in the U.S. as of Jan. 1, 2021, without legal status would have a five-year path to temporary legal status, or a green card, if they pass background checks, pay taxes and fulfill other basic requirements. From there, it’s a three-year path to naturalization, if they decide to pursue citizenship.
For some immigrants, the process would be quicker. So-called Dreamers, the young people who arrived in the U.S. illegally as children, as well as agricultural workers and people under temporary protective status could qualify more immediately for green cards if they are working, are in school or meet other requirements.
It Does Address Some of the Root Causes of Migration From Central America to the United States
The bill is not as comprehensive as the last major immigration overhaul proposed when Biden was vice president during the Obama administration.
For example, it does not include a robust border security element, but rather calls for coming up with strategies. Nor does it create any new guest worker or other visa programs.
It does address some of the root causes of migration from Central America to the United States, and provides grants for workforce development and English language learning.
Biden is expected to take swift executive actions to reverse other Trump immigration actions, including an end to the prohibition on arrivals from several predominantly Muslim countries.
During the Democratic primary, Biden consistently named immigration action as one of his first-day priorities, pointing to the range of executive powers he could invoke to reverse Trump’s policies.
Biden allies and even some Republicans have identified immigration as a major issue where the new administration could find common ground with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and enough other GOP senators to avoid the stalemate that has vexed administrations of both parties for decades.
That kind of major win — even if it involves compromise — could be critical as Biden looks for legislative victories in a closely divided Congress, where Republicans are certain to oppose other Biden priorities that involve rolling back some of the GOP’s 2017 tax cuts and increasing federal spending.
As a candidate, Biden said the Obama administration went too far in its aggressive deportations.
RELATED TOPICS:
Texas Beats Texas Tech in 3rd Game of WCWS to Win Its 1st National Championship
1 day ago
Conforto Comes Through, Dodgers Rally in 8th for Victory Abetted by Mets Mishap
1 day ago
Giants Beat the Slumping Braves in 10 Innings on a Wild Pitch
1 day ago
Trump Has Options to Punish Musk Even if His Federal Contracts Continue
22 hours ago
Ukrainian Attack Damaged 10% of Russia’s Strategic Bombers, Germany Says
22 hours ago
Why Reforming California’s Bedrock Environmental Law Is Good for the Environment
1 day ago
Sinner Bids for His First French Open Title Against Defending Champion Alcaraz
1 day ago
Coco Gauff Defeats Top-Ranked Aryna Sabalenka in 3 Sets to Win Her First French Open Title
1 day ago
Texas Beats Texas Tech in 3rd Game of WCWS to Win Its 1st National Championship
1 day ago
Conforto Comes Through, Dodgers Rally in 8th for Victory Abetted by Mets Mishap
1 day ago
Giants Beat the Slumping Braves in 10 Innings on a Wild Pitch
1 day ago
Trump Has Options to Punish Musk Even if His Federal Contracts Continue
22 hours ago
Ukrainian Attack Damaged 10% of Russia’s Strategic Bombers, Germany Says
22 hours ago
Why Reforming California’s Bedrock Environmental Law Is Good for the Environment
1 day ago
Sinner Bids for His First French Open Title Against Defending Champion Alcaraz
1 day ago
Coco Gauff Defeats Top-Ranked Aryna Sabalenka in 3 Sets to Win Her First French Open Title
1 day ago
Texas Beats Texas Tech in 3rd Game of WCWS to Win Its 1st National Championship
1 day ago
Conforto Comes Through, Dodgers Rally in 8th for Victory Abetted by Mets Mishap
1 day ago
Giants Beat the Slumping Braves in 10 Innings on a Wild Pitch
1 day ago
California’s Stubborn Problems Keep Thwarting Its Ballooning Budget
7 hours ago
Categories

California’s Stubborn Problems Keep Thwarting Its Ballooning Budget

Trump Says Musk Relationship Over, Warns of ‘Serious Consequences’ if He Funds Democrats

Trump Has Options to Punish Musk Even if His Federal Contracts Continue

Ukrainian Attack Damaged 10% of Russia’s Strategic Bombers, Germany Says

Why Reforming California’s Bedrock Environmental Law Is Good for the Environment
