10 JULY 2023

Immigration Hub Applauds Expanded Family Reunification Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Immigration Hub commends the Biden administration’s recent decision to expedite existing legal pathways for Colombian, El Salvadoran, Honduran, and Guatemalan nationals to gain lawful status in the U.S. and reunite with their families. Family reunification has long been the cornerstone of our legal immigration system, but the numerical limitations under certain preference categories too often force loved ones to live apart for years, even decades.

In response to the announcement, Sergio Gonzales, Executive Director of the Immigration Hub, issued the following statement:

“The Immigration Hub and our allies have long called for expanded legal pathways as part of a balanced approach to managing hemispheric migration challenges. In this case, making it quicker to join loved ones in America, with visas and work permits in hand, will reduce the temptation for some to head to the U.S.-Mexico border in hopes of accelerating the process of family reunion. Combined with the special humanitarian parole visa programs for limited numbers of those from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela, these efforts serve the goal of reducing border pressures from high out-migration nations destabilized by political repression, climate-related disasters, violence and destitution.

“It is clear that America needs a smart and expansive strategy to respond to a post-pandemic increase in forced migration throughout the Americas. The key elements include: the aggressive pursuit of multilateral cooperation with allies in the hemisphere; a crackdown on smuggling networks; expanded legal pathways for family members, needed workers and approved refugees; long-term root cause alleviation strategies; a fair and efficient asylum system that ensures potential refugees have legal assistance and life-and-death decisions are made by independent and trained adjudicators; and support for border and interior communities who are welcoming those admitted.

“The Biden administration is, indeed, putting together a strategy that comports with these principles. We applaud their progress on multiple fronts and thank the administration for making progress and we continue to advocate for a fair, orderly and humane approach to this hemispheric challenge.”

Background: The Biden administration announced last Friday that it will admit a select category of Central Americans and Colombians to enter the U.S. legally if they have relatives who are U.S. citizens or legal residents and have family reunification visas on their behalf under our legal immigration system. In effect, the program will enable early admission from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras and Colombia for a limited group of those currently in the family petition backlog. To qualify for parole under this program, U.S. citizens or permanent residents will have approved immigrant visa requests on behalf of qualifying family members, such as the adult children and siblings of U.S. citizens and the children and spouses of permanent residents. 

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The Immigration Hub is a national organization dedicated to advancing fair and just immigration policies through strategic leadership, innovative communications strategies, legislative advocacy and collaborative partnerships.