Photo from Unsplash by Elias Castillo
President Joe Biden sent an immigration reform bill authored in part by Rep Judy Chu (D-CA) to Congress Wednesday.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice, which praised the move, says the bill includes a path to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants and measures to reunite separated families.
“Today provides much-needed relief for our communities, which no longer have to live under the discriminatory Muslim Ban or the threat of DACA termination,” Asian Americans Advancing Justice said. “President Biden’s bold immigration legislation aims to provide a path to citizenship for undocumented people, offering relief to our loved ones, neighbors, and allies, including the workers who have been in essential jobs long before the pandemic highlighted how essential they truly are to our communities and to our country. It’s time for Congress to pass legislation that creates a roadmap to citizenship for every immigrant who calls this country home – without tradeoffs on enforcement or family sponsorship.”
The bill includes two measures authored by Chu, the the Reuniting Families Act and No Ban Act.
According to the Sacramento Bee, undocumented immigrants living in the United States could apply for temporary legal status. After five years, they could apply for green cards as long as they were in this country before January 2, 2021.
DACA recipients, TPS holders and farmworkers who meet eligibility requirements could get green cards immediately.
AAJC urged Biden to issue a “comprehensive moratorium on deportations, including for our incarcerated communities, an end to immigrant detention, and a fairer, more humane system.
“Today is a win for our communities, but it is only the beginning. Advancing Justice is committed to continuing our fight against White supremacy, and our work to assist the most vulnerable immigrants in our communities, including those with criminal convictions. It’s time to make the United States a nation where “we the people” includes all of us, no matter our race, birthplace, age, religion, ability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Working together, we will advance justice for our communities.”
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