The new president of the United States, Joe Biden sent to Congress on Wednesday an immigration bill requesting that about 11 million undocumented immigrants currently residing in that country acquire citizenship.
This comprehensive plan also seeks address the cause of migration from Central American countries and help them solve this problem. Likewise, it aims to improve the use of technology and increase the means of border control with Mexico. This was disclosed to ‘CNN’ by a source aware of the proposal.
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In contrast to the anti-immigration actions that characterized Donald Trump’s four-year tenure, Biden has promised since his campaign that immigration reform would be a priority in his administration.
He also worked to revise some 400 regulations that restricted his predecessor asylum, detained tens of thousands of undocumented immigrants, and made the processing of legal residency visas and obtaining US citizenship more complex and expensive.
Biden has come under pressure from immigration groups who are concerned that the deportation that took place during Barak Obama’s tenure will also be a constant in his administration.
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Undocumented immigrants could obtain US citizenship within eight years
What is the project about?1. Path to Citizenship
The main pillar of the proposal is that certain undocumented immigrants can obtain US citizenship within eight years.
Temporary legal status would be granted to undocumented migrants entering the country before January 1, 2021 and has lived in the United States for at least five years. This prerequisite is to prevent mass migration to the border with Mexico.
After this period, they could apply for permanent residency, more commonly known as a ‘green card’. After three years and after meeting certain requirements, they could apply for citizenship.
“It’s about people creating a path to gain citizenship. We will reduce time from what is now 13 years to 8 yearsVice President Kamala Harris said in an interview with the ‘Univision’ network.
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Every year, thousands of Central American immigrants travel in caravans to the United States.
2. Permanent legal residence for beneficiaries in Dhaka
The plan also aims to simplify the process for beneficiaries of deferred action for the arrival of children (Daca) to obtain legal residence. Equal to so-called ‘dreamers’ could immediately apply for a residence permit.
“We are going to expand protection for ‘dreamers’ and beneficiaries of’ Dhaka,” Harris said. “These are some of the things we are going to do on our immigration law. And we believe it is a more intelligent and humane way to approach the subject, ”he added.
Dreamers are undocumented students who came to the United States as minors.
3. End of Trump’s immigration policy
Biden will initiate the reunification process for families separated on the US-Mexico border within his first ten days in office. About 600 children currently in custody are expected to be reunited with their families.
Also will order the suspension of the measure that resulted in the separation of approximately 5,000 minors from their migrant parents between 2017 and 2018.
On the other hand, will issue a decree to stop the construction of the border wall with Mexico that Trump promised, to prevent the arrival of undocumented immigrants.
The plan strives for it reallocate the resources for this work to improve the operation of customs posts and the use of technology. It, in turn, has the goal of acquiring more staff to combat human trafficking and drugs at borders.
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Part of the wall was built during the Donald Trump administration.
Likewise, it comes to an end cancel the Migrant Protection Protocol (MPP). This policy of the Trump administration was the reason why tens of thousands of people who arrived at the US border to seek asylum have been returned to Mexico and Central America pending a response to their procedures.
Help Central America
Joe Biden’s plan attack the root cause of mass migration from the countries of Central America.
For this reason, along with the governments of Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala, Biden will allocate resources to address the economic and social causes for which millions of people decide to migrate illegally hope for a better life in America.
Processing centers for refugee procedures will also be established in Central America.
(Read more: Santos and Uribe’s messages to US President Joe Biden).
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