The Biden administration is striving to address the contentious issue of immigration ahead of the November presidential election.
President Biden aims to take a tougher stance on illegal migrants while differentiating himself from Donald Trump, who is running a campaign focused on depicting the country as being besieged by a so-called migrant “invasion.”
Biden’s recent actions have drawn immediate criticism from Republicans but have been praised by immigration reform advocates.
The new rules will streamline the process for those already eligible for permanent residence by eliminating the requirement to leave the country during the application process.
These new rules will apply to individuals who have been in the country for at least 10 years and are married to a U.S. citizen as of June 17, 2024, estimated to include around half a million people.
Additionally, approximately 50,000 stepchildren of U.S. citizens would be eligible. Approved applicants will be granted work authorization and the right to stay in the U.S. for up to three years while applying for a green card, which will eventually allow them to apply for full citizenship.
“What we are announcing are potentially streamlined processes to minimize the bureaucracy and the hardship caused by having to leave the country,” a senior administration official told reporters.
However, another official emphasized, “Only Congress can deliver comprehensive reform of our immigration and asylum laws.”
Republicans have criticized the new rules. Far-right House member Marjorie Taylor Greene accused Biden of implementing a “vote-buying free citizenship executive order.”
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Congressman Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma stated, “With the stroke of a pen, President Biden is now shielding 550,000 illegal aliens from deportation in an effort to appease their family members and gain their votes for the upcoming election.”
Conversely, groups advocating for undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens to receive work permits celebrated Biden’s move.
Rebecca Shi, executive director of the American Business Immigration Coalition, said, “President Biden’s action to extend work permits for long-term immigrant spouses is morally right, economically sound, and politically smart.
The overwhelming majority of Americans support these humane and common-sense steps, which will directly improve the lives of more than 10 million American citizens who have an undocumented family member.”
Biden is also addressing concerns that illegal immigration is out of control. His previous bipartisan immigration package, which proposed the strictest policies in decades, collapsed when Republicans withdrew under pressure from Trump.
In response, Biden signed an executive order limiting asylum seekers after certain daily caps are reached, a move that has drawn criticism from the left and a legal challenge from rights groups.
The administration defended its asylum order and characterized the congressional push as “the toughest and fairest set of reforms in decades.”
Meanwhile, Trump has referred to immigrants as “poisoning the blood of the country” and promised mass deportations.
Additionally, on Tuesday, the Biden administration is set to simplify the process for undocumented individuals known as Dreamers to obtain work visas if they have graduated from college and have a high-skilled job offer.
