NEW YORK, CMC – Caribbean-American Democratic Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke and immigration advocates have welcomed what they describe as President Joe Biden’s “commonsense actions” to help long-standing undocumented Caribbean and different immigrants.
On Tuesday, Biden introduced new actions that will help the power of undocumented Caribbean and different immigrants to work and stay in america with their households with out worry of deportation. On the similar time, they pursue a pathway to authorized standing.
President Joe Biden
“Undocumented Individuals have come to characterize an irreplaceable component of our social and financial material,” stated Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants.
She famous that during the last weekend, America “commemorated 12 years of being uplifted and bettered by the Deferred Motion for Childhood Arrival (DACA) and that “ we have been every reminded of the huge contributions undocumented people proceed to carry to our communities by their willpower, abilities, and devotion to an often-ungrateful nation.”
The consultant for the predominantly Caribbean ninth Congressional District in Brooklyn stated far too many immigrants have remained tormented by uncertainty surrounding their standing.
“Fortunately, by the Biden-Harris administration’s historic motion… we’re on the humanitarian path ahead,” Clarke stated, including this coverage change “stands among the many most vital steps to guard immigrants and their households since President Obama first introduced DACA.
“For undocumented spouses of US residents. Whose future in our nation is now secured, the numerous kids residing in mixed-status households who have been liable to shedding a mum or dad to deportation, and the numerous different Individuals who’re proud to carry an undocumented individual near their hearts, the rapid and significant affect of this second can’t be overstated,” she instructed the Caribbean Media Company (CMC).
“President Biden’s announcement is an important step in our combat to offer undocumented Individuals the lives they deserve and the steadiness we’re every entitled to. Furthermore, it upholds the reality that our precedence is, and should all the time be, to maintain households collectively.
“However make no mistake, regardless of as we speak’s landmark announcement, we should not lose sight of the street forward.“Securing a pathway to citizenship is as needed now as ever earlier than.
“With this administration’s dedication to supporting immigrant households of each background and inside each group, I’m optimistic that we are going to attain the progress undocumented people have lengthy awaited,” Clarke stated.
Murad Awawdeh, president and chief government officer of the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), instructed CMC, “We commend President Biden and Vice President Harris for taking welcome motion to deal with the wants of immigrant communities and maintain households collectively.
“Widespread sense use of current regulation to offer options is the constructive management we have to reform our immigration system. Rising entry to work authorization and authorized standing is a smart funding in making a stronger America and a strong workforce.
“It’s additionally the precise factor to do to maintain households united and equip individuals to help themselves and thrive with dignity. A balanced strategy to fixing our immigration system ensures a good, humane, and orderly system for managing the border and entry to secure and lawful pathways for immigration – in addition to citizenship for DACA (Deferred Motion for Childhood Arrivals) recipients, Dreamers, and long-settled immigrant households who’ve lengthy known as America house,” he added.
Awawdeh stated Biden’s actions are “a step in the precise course to constructing a future that unites us all,” calling on the Biden administration to “construct on this historic announcement within the coming week.”
He stated this new course of may gain advantage as much as 500,000 immigrants and 50,000 of their kids underneath the age of 21.
The deputy director of Make the Street New York, one other immigration advocacy group, additionally stated Biden’s motion is “a step in the precise course for the practically half 1,000,000 individuals residing in america, who might profit from as we speak’s announcement.”
“For years, we’ve been calling on the president to move immigration reform,” Natalia Aristizabal instructed CMC, including, “Within the absence of congressional motion on a complete and humane invoice, we’re glad to see Biden announce this.
“This victory comes after years of pushing the administration to offer options for the immigrant group. Whereas immigrants in america have been underneath large risk from extremists, we’ve proven that we are going to not again down and can proceed to carry leaders accountable for delivering for our households.”
In his announcement, Biden stated this new course of will assist sure noncitizen spouses and kids apply for lawful everlasting residence – “standing that they’re already eligible for – with out leaving the nation.”
“These actions will promote household unity and strengthen our financial system, offering a big profit to the nation and serving to US residents and their noncitizen members of the family keep collectively,” he stated.
With the intention to be eligible, Biden stated noncitizens will need to have resided in america for 10 or extra years and be legally married to a US citizen as of June 17, 2024, whereas satisfying all relevant authorized necessities.
He stated that, on common, those that are eligible for this course of have resided within the US for 23 years.
The president stated these accredited after the Division of Homeland Safety’s (DHS) case-by-case evaluation of their software can be afforded three years to use for everlasting residency.
“They are going to be allowed to stay with their households in america and be eligible for work authorization for as much as three years,” Biden stated, including it will apply to all eligible married {couples}.
He stated this motion will shield about half 1,000,000 spouses of US residents and about 50,000 noncitizen kids underneath 21 whose mum or dad is married to a US citizen.
Associated