83 House Democrats Join Call Urging Biden to Expand Pathways to Citizenship for Long-Settled Undocumented Immigrants

Washington, D.C. – Today, as first reported in NBC, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Nanette Barragán (D-CA) led 82 other House Democrats in urging President Biden to take executive action that would provide long-settled undocumented immigrants in the U.S. a path to citizenship and work authorization. The letter, which complements a similar effort from Senate Democrats in March, offers recommendations for President Biden to act within his power to protect and unify mixed-status American families before the end of his first term.

According to a recent analysis by FWD.us, more than two-thirds (68%) of undocumented individuals in the U.S. have been waiting a decade or more for immigration relief. Yet in 2019 alone, undocumented immigrants contributed an estimated $9.7 billion in federal and state taxes and over $11 billion in social security contributions. Executive action on immigration would provide certainty to the American businesses, communities, and families who rely on them. Recent polling conducted by Global Strategy Group and BSP Research on behalf of Immigration Hub shows overwhelming support for President Biden taking action to build on his existing improvements to the immigration system, highlighting an opportunity to galvanize key voters ahead of November.

Excerpts of the letter below detail the requested actions on behalf of the Biden administration: 

• “Protect and Unify American Families.”

  • “We urge your Administration to return some of this discretion to immigration officials, and create a process to allow undocumented immigrants married to U.S. citizens to seek parole, on a case-by-case basis, if doing so would be warranted for urgent humanitarian reasons or to advance a significant public benefit.”

• “Permit Spouses of Americans to Work While Their Green Card Cases are Pending.”

  • Please consider all available options to assist these families and give applicants stability and a chance to work while they wait for an approval, similar to applicants seeking adjustment from within the United States.”

• “Streamline the Process to Change to a Nonimmigrant Status.”

  • “We urge you to take steps to streamline the process by which DACA holders may obtain another status, such as increasing coordination between the Department of State and USCIS to ensure timely scheduling of appointments for DACA holders seeking to change status.”

• “Modernizing Cancellation of Removal Rules so America’s Family Caregivers Can Stay Together.”

  • “We are pleased to see that DHS and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have placed a proposal on the Unified Regulatory Agenda regarding a regulation to specify that certain nonpermanent residents may be eligible to apply for cancellation of removal without first being placed in removal proceedings under section 240 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. We urge DHS and DOJ to issue this regulation.”

Endorsing groups include: Immigration Hub, FWD.us, American Families United, America’s Voice, UnidosUS, National Immigration Law Center, American Civil Liberties Union, American Business Immigration Coalition, CASA, Undocublack, and American Immigration Lawyers Association.

Read the full letter here.

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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.