Over a hundred House Democrats have issued a letter to President Joe Biden, urging him to provide more privileges to illegal immigrants. The letter, also addressed to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, outlines three specific benefits that the legislators hope Biden will deliver.
The first benefit the Democrats called for is executive action to assist “certain undocumented individuals who are stuck in limbo and asylum seekers in obtaining work authorization.” They propose expedited work authorization for illegal immigrants, bypassing the usual 150-day waiting period for asylum seekers to apply for a work permit.
The Democrats argue that these actions would assist asylum seekers and their communities by increasing the use of parole and reducing the regulatory wait period for work authorization. However, some critics argue that admitting more foreign nationals to the U.S. labor market can have negative effects on wages for American workers, citing a study by immigration economist George Borjas.
The second benefit requested by the Democrats is a reduction in wait times for immigrants present in the United States illegally to receive a provisional immigrant visa. They argue that a streamlined process for applying for a waiver of inadmissibility would be beneficial for those who are statutorily eligible for an immigrant visa but for their unlawful presence in the country.
The American asylum system has been overwhelmed by record-setting levels of illegal immigration since Biden took office, leading to a backlog of cases for immigration courts. By streamlining the process for cancellation of removal, the Democrats believe that it would increase access to lawful permanent resident status for immigrants who are vital contributors to their American families and communities.
The Democrats acknowledge that their proposed benefits for illegal immigrants may face opposition from Republicans, particularly those aligned with the “MAGA” movement. They claim that this opposition would prevent them from legislating these benefits within Congress and necessitates executive action from the Biden administration.
This is not the first time Democratic legislators have requested privileges for illegal immigrants. A similar list of benefits was requested in May by other Democratic representatives, including Pramila Jayapal of Washington and Jerry Nadler of New York, who are among the members of Congress to sign the recent letter.
As of now, the Biden administration has not provided a formal response to the Democrats’ letter. However, the push for more privileges for asylum seekers comes at a time when cities, particularly in deep-blue areas, are struggling to manage the mass arrivals of migrants from the southern border. New York City Mayor Eric Adams recently warned that the continuing influx of migrants could potentially “destroy” the iconic American city.
It remains to be seen whether the Biden administration will take action on the Democrats’ requests or address the concerns surrounding the consequences of such privileges for illegal immigrants. The debate over immigration policy and its impact on American workers and communities will likely continue as both sides present their arguments and seek solutions.
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