Biden Immigration Reform Bill Gives Faster Path To Citizenship

By Dulce Torres Guzman, Tennessee Lookout

January 21, 2021

President Joe Biden sent a sweeping immigration reform bill to Congress on his first day in office, and immigrant-advocacy groups have been preparing individuals for a fast-track path to citizenship.

Biden’s proposed immigration bill, called the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, would provide a faster path to citizenship for an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S.

In stark contrast to Donald Trump administration’s hard line policies, the bill proposes limiting presidential authority from issuing bans based on religion and increasing the diversity visa program (a program that randomly selects people for obtaining permanent residency) from 80,000 to 55,000, which the Trump administration sought to eliminate altogether.

The Trump administration made citizenship more difficult for undocumented people, including a failed attempt to remove protections from Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipients under the Dream Act. Families were also often separated due to a three to 10-year bar from reentry into the U.S. after unlawfully residency, and green-card applicants needed to apply for residency from their home country. This included individuals married to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. The Biden Administration seeks to overturn this by allowing individuals to reside with approved family sponsors in the U.S. while awaiting their green cards.

Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC), has been preparing an estimated 13,000 DACA recipients for citizenship under the Biden administration. Biden’s immigration proposal also seeks to provide funding to state and local governments and immigrant-advocacy groups to facilitate assistance to those seeking to become citizens. Under the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, DACA recipients would immediately receive green cards and be able to apply for citizenship after three years.

While providing paths to citizenship, the bill also seeks to add protections for workers, reduce trafficking at the U.S. border and address the root causes of immigration, such as providing assistance to troubled Latino countries while continuing to support asylum seekers.

While the proposal will need to be approved by Congress, it would immediately protect millions from being deported. With Democrats controlling the presidency, the House and the Senate, advocacy groups are hopeful for a permanent immigration reform facilitating citizenship.

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