In a significant policy shift, President Joe Biden is set to unveil new immigration rules today aimed at protecting up to half a million illegal immigrants from deportation. Tuesday’s announcement is poised to mark a crucial milestone in Biden’s presidency, as he hopes to walk a tightrope on the hot-button issue of immigration.
Parole In Place: A Lifeline For Many
The new rules, termed “parole in place,” are designed to offer a pathway to citizenship to individuals who have been living in the United States for at least 10 years and are married to U.S. citizens. By providing eligible unauthorized immigrants the chance to apply for work permits, the administration aims to pave the way for them to eventually gain legal residency.
The announcement is strategically timed to coincide with the 12th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. This initiative, launched by former President Barack Obama in 2012, has provided protection from deportation to eligible illegal immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children, known as Dreamers. The White House ceremony celebrating this milestone will serve as the backdrop for Biden’s announcement, adding a layer of historical significance to the event.
The Daily Wire continues:
A fact sheet from the White House on the new protections includes requirements that illegal immigrants must have lived in the country for at least 10 years and be legally married to an American to qualify, Fox News reported. An illegal immigrant approved under Biden’s program could apply for permanent residency after three years and be eligible for a work permit for up to three years.
“President Biden believes that securing the border is essential,” a White House spokesman said, according to Fox News. “He also believes in expanding lawful pathways and keeping families together, and that immigrants who have been in the United States for decades, paying taxes and contributing to their communities, are part of the social fabric of our country.”
Republicans, led by Trump, have slammed Biden for his handling of immigration and border security. The president, however, has remained unapologetic for his border policies — even as Customs and Border Protection has reported record numbers of border encounters in the past three years.
Asked earlier this month by Time Magazine if his humanitarian policies are to blame for “record illegal border crossing,” Biden simply responded, “No.”
However, the majority of Americans seem to disagree. According to a recent CBS News/YouGov poll, 62% of registered voters support a hypothetical plan to deport all illegal immigrants.
Biden’s new policies come at a critical juncture, just two weeks after he announced measures to temporarily close borders to migrants ahead of the upcoming November election. By introducing deportation protections and work permits for certain immigrants, Biden is attempting to strike a delicate balance between enforcing border security and addressing the humanitarian needs of long-term residents (and likely supporters).
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