Biden to Propose Sweeping Citizenship Path for Immigrants

On Day One of his administration, President-elect Joe Biden plans to unveil a sweeping immigration bill that provides an eight-year path to citizenship for an estimated 11 million people living in the U.S. without legal status.

The expected move, which is a massive reversal from the Donald Trump administration’s harsh immigration policies, delivers on a major campaign promise important to Latino voters and other immigrant communities after four years of restrictive policies and mass deportations.

According to AP, it provides one of the fastest pathways to citizenship for those living without legal status of any measure in recent years, but it fails to include the traditional trade-off of enhanced border security favored by many Republicans, making passage in a narrowly pided Congress in doubt.

Expected to run hundreds of pages, the bill is set to be introduced after Biden takes the oath of office Wednesday, according to a person familiar with the legislation and granted anonymity to discuss it.

As a candidate, Biden called Trump’s actions on immigration an “unrelenting assault” on American values and said he would “undo the damage” while continuing to maintain border enforcement.

Under the legislation, those living in the U.S. as of Jan. 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 fulfill other basic requirements. From there, it’s a three-year path to naturalization, if they decide to pursue citizenship.

For some immigrants, the process would be quicker. So-called Dreamers, the young people who arrived in the U.S. illegally as children, as well as agricultural workers and people under temporary protective status could qualify more immediately for green cards if they are working, are in school or meet other requirements.

The bill does address some of the root causes of migration from Central America to the United States, and provides grants for workforce development and English language learning.

After inauguration, Biden is expected to take swift executive actions to reverse other Trump immigration actions, including an end to the prohibition on arrivals from several predominantly Muslim countries.