President Biden’s campaign manager, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, recently addressed questions regarding the timing of the president’s new executive order on immigration during an interview with Fin Gomez on CBS News’ “America Decides.” Rodriguez emphasized that immigration reform has been a top priority for the Biden administration from the start and criticized former President Trump for obstructing a bipartisan immigration bill earlier this year.
When asked if the executive order was a political move to garner more votes from mixed-status families, Rodriguez highlighted the importance of keeping families together and ensuring they are not separated by harsh policies. She stated that families eligible for the executive order would find comfort in knowing they have an opportunity to remain united in the country.
Despite concerns from critics that the executive order was a strategic move to maintain support among Latino voters, Rodriguez emphasized President Biden’s commitment to immigration issues since taking office. She pointed out Biden’s efforts to expand the Affordable Care Act for DACA recipients and did not mention anything about border security during the interview.
President Biden’s recent announcement regarding allowing U.S. citizens’ spouses without legal status to apply for permanent residency and citizenship without having to leave the country for up to 10 years could benefit around 500,000 immigrants, according to senior administration officials. To qualify, immigrants must have lived in the U.S. for at least 10 years and be married to a U.S. citizen as of Monday.
The DACA program, which protects individuals who arrived in the U.S. as children from deportation, has specific requirements for eligibility, such as being in the country on June 15, 2012, and continuously for the previous five years. Advocacy group FWD.us estimates that over 1 million illegal immigrants married to American citizens reside in the U.S., but not all will qualify under the new regulations due to the 10-year residency requirement.
Additionally, approximately 50,000 noncitizen children with parents married to U.S. citizens could potentially benefit from the new regulations. President Biden also introduced changes to make it easier for DACA beneficiaries and other young immigrants to qualify for established work visas.
In conclusion, President Biden’s immigration executive order has sparked discussions about its timing and potential impact on the upcoming elections. While some view it as a strategic move to secure votes, others see it as a step towards comprehensive immigration reform and family unification. The order’s implications for various immigrant communities and the broader political landscape remain to be seen as the Biden administration continues to address immigration issues.