Biden likely to fast-track US citizenship |
US President-elect Joe Biden will deliver on his campaign promise to ethnic communities, especially Latino voters, by introducing a landmark Immigration Bill on his first day in office. The Bill will reverse the outgoing President Donald Trump administration`s harsh immigration policies. Biden`s sweeping reform may provide an 8-year path to citizenship for an estimated 11 million people living in the country without legal status. This legislation will the first delivery by Biden and Vice President elect Kamala Harris and is seen as a major relief after four tumultuous years of Trump`s restrictive policies and mass deportations. It could be the fastest pathway to citizenship for those living illegally in America. On the other hand, the Bill may not address the traditional trade-off of enhanced border security favoured by many Republicans, making passage in a narrowly divided Congress in doubt. The Bill has been in the making by the legal team of Biden-Harris and is likely to run hundreds of pages. Candidate Biden had labelled Trump`s immigration actions an “unrelenting assault” on American values and said he would “undo the damage” while continuing to maintain border enforcement. Reports said that under the legislation, those living in the USA as of January 1, 2021, without legal status would have a five-year path to temporary legal status, or a green card, if they pass background checks, pay taxes and fulfil other basic requirements. From there, it`s a three-year path to naturalization, if they decide to pursue citizenship. For some immigrants, the process would be quicker. The young people who arrived in the US illegally as children, as well as agricultural workers and people under temporary protective status could qualify more immediately for green cards if they are working, are in school or meet other requirements.
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