Biden Administration Weighs Protections for Migrant Spouses

Kaylee Everhart

Updated Tuesday, June 11, 2024 at 6:05 AM CDT

Biden Administration Weighs Protections for Migrant Spouses

The Biden administration is considering a proposal to protect migrant spouses of U.S. citizens from deportation and allow them to work legally, according to four officials familiar with the discussions. While no final decision has been made, and the policy's details remain unclear, the potential move could provide an easier route for some spouses to obtain U.S. citizenship.

This proposed program, known as "parole in place," has been used in the past for families of military members. It offers immigrants protection from deportation for a certain period and grants access to a work permit. The program could help some immigrants obtain a green card, paving the way to U.S. citizenship.

President Joe Biden recently took a tougher stance on border enforcement by barring asylum for migrants crossing into the United States. This shift aims to appeal to white, blue-collar voters in Midwestern swing states like Michigan and Wisconsin, but it risks alienating younger Latinos and progressives crucial to Democratic victories in the Southwest.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., criticized Biden's recent executive order, comparing it to measures from the Trump era. Immigrant advocacy groups, like Fwd.US, estimate that over 1 million spouses of U.S. citizens could be affected by protective policies. Andrea Flores, a former administration official and vice president of immigration policy at Fwd.US, is advocating for President Biden to safeguard long-term undocumented immigrants.

Recent surveys indicate broad support among Americans, including Democrats and Latinos, for both tougher immigration enforcement and legal pathways to citizenship. Cities and states are struggling to accommodate record numbers of migrants entering the country, and Republican candidates have increasingly used fears about migrants affecting jobs, elections, and cultural identity in their campaigns.

Many Mexican American and Latino activists and elected officials in California, Arizona, and Nevada have roots in immigrant-rights movements. Meanwhile, Charles Franklin, director of the Marquette Law School Poll, noted that Wisconsin respondents view Trump as better on immigration than Biden by a 2-to-1 ratio.

The American Civil Liberties Union plans to sue the Biden administration over measures limiting asylum access at the southern border. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has affirmed the administration's legal stance, setting the stage for further legal battles over immigration policy.

Conservative Bias:

Once again, the Biden administration is pandering to the far-left radicals and open-border zealots with this absurd proposal to protect migrant spouses of U.S. citizens. While our borders are being overrun and American jobs are at risk, Biden is more concerned with appeasing his progressive base than securing our nation. This so-called "parole in place" is nothing more than a backdoor amnesty, undermining the rule of law and incentivizing more illegal immigration. The Democrats are playing a dangerous game, risking the safety and economic stability of our country for political gain. It's no wonder that Americans, especially those in critical swing states, see Trump as the stronger leader on immigration. Biden's policies are a disaster, and it's time to put America first.

Liberal Bias:

In a shocking display of hypocrisy, the Biden administration is now adopting Trump-era tactics by barring asylum for migrants crossing into the United States, all in a desperate bid to court white, blue-collar voters in swing states. This betrayal of immigrant communities is unforgivable, especially when over 1 million spouses of U.S. citizens are at risk. Biden's tougher border policies are a slap in the face to younger Latinos and progressives who helped secure his victory. The administration's legal stance, defended by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, is setting the stage for a brutal legal battle with the American Civil Liberties Union. This is not the change we voted for; it's a capitulation to xenophobic fearmongering, and it's disgraceful.

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