Indian-American Representative Pramila Jayapal and several US Senators, including Alex Padilla, Dick Durbin, Cory Booker, Catherine Cortez Masto, Ben Ray Luján, Edward J Markey, along with Representative Nanette Barragán, have urged President Joe Biden to safeguard long-term undocumented immigrants in the United States. The politicians have joined advocacy groups such as FWD.us, American Families United, UnidosUS, and CASA to put forth their demand.
The members and advocates pressed the Biden Administration to promptly act on measures reportedly under consideration to grant protections and assistance to long-standing undocumented individuals, many of whom have resided in the United States for years and have made significant contributions to their communities.
Their specific requests included expanding Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and simplifying pathways to legal status for undocumented spouses of US citizens, family caregivers, and other long-term residents.
“I am proud to be an immigrant, one of just two dozen naturalized citizens to serve in the United States Congress,” said Rep. Jayapal in a statement. “I know — and the vast majority of the American people know—that America is fueled by the creativity, inspiration and hard work of immigrant families. Harsh, enforcement-only policies that separate families have never worked and will not work. In the meantime, the Biden Administration’s greatest successes have been in using its legal authority to provide more legal pathways through the kinds of actions we are advocating for today. We can boost our economy, enrich our communities, and actually make life better for America families across this country.”
Early last month, President Biden announced that the White House is considering options to grant temporary legal status and work permits to immigrants residing illegally in the US who are married to American citizens.
Immigration has become a prominent issue for voters, particularly Republicans, leading up to the Nov. 5 election, which will see President Biden, a Democrat, facing off against his Republican predecessor, Donald Trump. Trump has criticized Biden's more lenient immigration policies, attributing them to an increase in illegal immigration.
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