Congresswoman Torres Statement on Biden Administrations New Action to Keep Families Together
Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) – released the following statement after the Biden Administration announced a new executive action to keep mixed-status families together. The new process would allow non-citizen children and spouses of U.S. citizens to apply for permanent residence and will ease the work visa process for Dreamers and U.S. college graduates.
“Today’s announcement from the Biden Administration is a step toward fixing our broken immigration system, but highlights the urgent need for Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform,”said Congresswoman Norma Torres. “In my district alone, approximately 3,000 undocumented individuals are married to U.S. citizens and are forced to live in fear and in the shadows to avoid separation from their families.The measures President Biden is announcing today will keep thousands of American families together and finally allow for spouses and children of citizens to apply for lawful residence.”
“For 12 years, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program has made our nation stronger by allowing our migrant youth to pursue educational and economic opportunities — but until today — many could not apply for jobs in their fields of expertise. Though a permanent change requires Congress to act, Biden’s new policy makes it possible for Dreamers to put their degrees to use and obtain work visas faster. Dreamers deserve the peace of mind and dignity of having the opportunity to work and thrive in the only place they have ever called home and after the sacrifices so many DACA recipients made working the frontlines of the pandemic, America owes them that much.”
Background: The Biden Administrations Keep Families Together Action will:
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Allow DACA recipients and other Dreamers with a U.S. degree and a job offer in their field to get work visas faster.
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This new process allows noncitizen spouses and children to apply for lawful permanent residence without leaving the country.
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Protect around 500,000 spouses of U.S. citizens and about 50,000 noncitizen children under 21 whose parent is married to a U.S. citizen.
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Include individuals with a DHS assessment to get a three year time period to apply for permanent residency, while staying with family, and getting work authorization.
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