Since his first day in office, President Biden has called on Congress to secure our border and reform our broken immigration system. As congressional Republicans continue to put partisan politics ahead of national security — having twice voted against the strongest, fairest package of reforms proposed in decades — the president and his administration have taken measures to secure the border, including:
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implementing executive actions to prohibit migrants who cross our southern border illegally from receiving asylum when the number of interceptions is high;
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the deployment of unprecedented numbers of law enforcement personnel, infrastructure and technology to the southern border;
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the seizure of record quantities of fentanyl at our ports of entry;
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revoking the visas of CEOs and government officials outside the United States who profit from the illegal arrival of migrants in the United States and
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expanding operations to dismantle human trafficking networks and prosecuting individuals who violate immigration laws.
President Biden believes securing the border is essential. He is also convinced that legal channels must be developed and the integrity of families preserved, and that immigrants who have been living in the United States for decades, who pay taxes and contribute to the life of their community, are part of the social fabric of our country. The immigration reform plan the president introduced on his first day in office and sent to Congress reflects both the need for a secure border and protections for long-term undocumented immigrants. While Congress has failed to act on these reforms, the Biden-Harris administration has worked to strengthen our legal immigration system. The administration has not only vigorously defended the DACA migration policy (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), but it also expanded Affordable Care Act health coverage to DACA recipients, and simplified, expanded, and instituted new reunification programs that allow families to stay together throughout the immigration process.
However, we can do more to bring peace of mind and stability to Americans living in mixed-status families and to young people educated in this country, including Dreamers. That’s why President Biden today announced new measures for those who have been here for many years, to keep American families together and allow more young people to contribute to our economy .
Preserving the unity of American families
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Today, President Biden announced that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will take steps to ensure that U.S. citizens whose spouses and children do not have U.S. citizenship can maintain their unity family.
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This new procedure will allow certain spouses and children who do not hold American nationality to apply for permanent resident status – to which they are already entitled – without having to leave the country.
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These measures will build family unity and strengthen our economy, bringing significant benefit to the country and helping U.S. citizens and their non-citizen family members stay together.
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To be eligible, non-citizens must – as of June 17, 2024 – have resided in the United States for 10 years or more and be legally married to a person. citoyen.ne American, and meet all applicable legal requirements. On average, people eligible for this procedure have resided in the United States for 23 years.
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Individuals whose application is approved after a case-by-case assessment by DHS will have a three-year period to apply for permanent residency. They will be allowed to stay with their families in the United States and will be able to benefit from work authorization for a maximum of three years. This measure will apply to all married couples who meet the required conditions.
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This measure will protect around half a million spouses from citoyen.neU.S. citizens and approximately 50,000 non-citizen children under the age of 21 whose parent is married to a U.S. citizen.
Easing the visa process for American university graduates, including “Dreamers”
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President Obama and, at the time, Vice President Biden established DACA to allow young people who were brought here as children to emerge from the shadows and contribute to our country in meaningful ways. . Twelve years later, DACA recipients who were high school and college students when they arrived are now successfully pursuing careers and starting families.
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Today’s announcement will allow individuals, including DACA recipients and other “Dreamers,” who have earned a degree in the United States from a U.S.-approved U.S. institution of higher education and have received a job offer from a US employer in a field related to their degree, to receive a work visa more quickly.
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Recognizing that it is in our national interest to ensure that people educated in the United States can use their skills and education to serve our country, the Administration is taking steps to facilitate the process. to obtain a work visa for people who hold a university degree and have received a job offer requiring a high level of qualifications, including for DACA beneficiaries and other “Dreamers”.
