Jayapal urges Biden to protect long-term undocumented immigrants
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Arun Kumar
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Rep. Pramila Jayapal; photo credit: Indian American Impact Fund
Indian American US Representative Pramila Jayapal joined by six other lawmakers and other advocates has called on President Joe Biden to protect long-term undocumented immigrants in the United States.
The lawmakers and advocates urged the Biden Administration to take urgent action, reportedly under consideration, “to provide protections and relief for long-term undocumented individuals, including people who have been in the United States for decades, contributing in countless ways to our communities.”
Specifically, they called on President Biden to expand Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and to streamline pathways to lawful status for undocumented spouses of US citizens, family caregivers, and other long-term residents.
READ: Jayapal, 75 lawmakers urge Biden to discuss human rights with Modi (June 21, 2023)
“I am proud to be an immigrant, one of just two dozen naturalized citizens to serve in the United States Congress. I know—and the vast majority of the American people know—that America is fueled by the creativity, inspiration and hard work of immigrant families,” said Jayapal.
“Harsh, enforcement-only policies that separate families have never worked and will not work. In the meantime, the Biden Administration’s greatest successes have been in using its legal authority to provide more legal pathways through the kinds of actions we are advocating for today. We can boost our economy, enrich our communities, and actually make life better for America families across this country.”
Joining Jayapal were Democratic senators Alex Padilla, Dick Durbin, Cory Booker, Catherine Cortez Masto, Ben Ray Luján, and Edward J. Markey, Rep Nanette Barragán and advocates from FWD.us, American Families United, UnidosUS, CASA, and others.
Padilla, Durbin, Booker, Cortez Masto, Luján, and Markey previously provided their recommendations to the administration for executive actions to streamline immigration relief for the undocumented population and DACA recipients in the United States.
Early last month, President Biden announced that the White House is considering options to grant temporary legal status and work permits to immigrants residing illegally in the US who are married to American citizens.
