WASHINGTON (AP) – President-elect Joe Biden plans to introduce an immigration bill on the first day of his administration, hoping to provide an eight-year path to citizenship for approximately 11 million people living in the United States without legal status, a massive reversal of the Trump administration’s harsh immigration policies.
The legislation puts Biden on track to deliver on a major campaign promise for Latino voters and other immigrant communities after four years of restrictive policies and mass deportations of President Donald Trump. It provides one of the fastest ways to citizenship for those living without legal status of any measure in recent years, but it does not include the traditional improved border security commitment favored by many Republicans, which calls into question the passage in a closely divided Congress. .
According to a person familiar with the legislation and granted anonymity to discuss it, hundreds of pages are expected to be published and will be submitted after Biden takes the oath on Wednesday.
As a candidate, Biden described Trump’s actions on immigration as a “relentless assault” on U.S. values and said he would “undo the damage” while continuing to maintain border enforcement.
Under the law, those living in the United States after January 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 meet other basic requirements. From here, it’s a three-year path to naturalization, if they decide to pursue citizenship.
For some immigrants, the process would be faster. The so-called Dreamers, young people who came to the U.S. illegally as children, as well as farm workers and people with temporary protection status, could get the most immediate requirements to receive green cards if they work, are in school or meet other requirements.
The bill is not as comprehensive as the last major immigration reform proposed when Biden was vice president during the Obama administration.
For example, it does not include a solid border security element, but requires strategies. Nor does it create any new guest workers or any other visa program.
It addresses some of the root causes of Central American migration to the United States and provides grants for workforce development and English learning.
Biden is expected to take swift executive action to reverse Trump’s other immigration actions, including ending the ban on arrivals from several predominantly Muslim countries.
During the Democratic primaries, Biden constantly called immigration action one of his “first-day” priorities, pointing to the range of executive powers he could invoke to reverse Trump’s policies.
Biden’s allies and even some Republicans have identified immigration as a major issue in which the new administration could find common ground with Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell and enough other Republican senators to prevent the stagnation that has plagued the administrations of both parties for decades.
This kind of important victory, even if it involves compromise, could be crucial as Biden seeks legislative victories in a tightly divided Congress, where Republicans are sure to oppose other Biden priorities that involve reversing some of the cuts of the 2017 GOP tax and increase federal rates. expense.
As a candidate, Biden went so far as to say that the Obama administration went too far in its aggressive deportations.
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Barrow reported from Wilmington, Del. Associated Press writer Elliot Spagat in San Diego contributed to this report.