WASHINGTON, USA.-the president Joe Biden it faces the political risk that comes with great ambition.
As one of its first measures, Biden last week offered extensive immigration reform that would pave the way for U.S. citizenship to an estimated 11 million people who are in the United States without permission. It will also amend clauses to remove some of the tough policies approved by the president Donald Trump, Such as trying to end protection for immigrants brought to the United States as children and restricting asylum.
It is precisely the kind of actions that Latin activists have desired, particularly after the tough strategy of the Trump era. But it must compete with the other legislative goals promised by Biden, including a $ 1.9 trillion plan to fight the coronavirus, an infrastructure package that promotes clean energy initiatives and a “public option” to expand the medical insurance.
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Under the best of circumstances, implementing such a wide variety of laws could be difficult. But in such a divided Congress, it would be impossible. And that has Latinos, the fastest-growing electoral bloc in the country, worried that Biden and congressional leaders could eliminate agreements that greatly weaken the final product or even approve something.
“This cannot be a situation where a simple visionary bill, a message bill, is sent to Congress and nothing happens to it,” said Marielena Hincapié, director of the National Center for Immigration Laws. “There is an expectation that they will meet and that there is a mandate now for Biden to be an unrepentant pro-immigrant and have a political imperative to do so, and Democrats too.”
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If Latinos finally feel betrayed, the political consequences for Democrats could last a long time. The 2020 elections had several warnings that, despite Democratic efforts to create a multiracial coalition, Latin support could be at risk.
Biden was already causing skepticism among some Latino activists for his association with the former president Barack Obama, who was called the “chief deportee” for the record number of immigrants who were taken out of the country during his rule. Senator Bernie Sanders challenged Biden last year in the Nevada and California primary caucuses, which served as the first thermometers for the Latin vote.
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