Las Americas Celebrates Historic Win for Undocumented Immigrants Announced By Biden Administration
EL PASO, TEXAS – Today, the Biden administration will unveil a plan that will grant protection from deportation, work authorization, and a potential pathway for adjustment of status for undocumented individuals who have resided in the United States for over a decade and have been married to a U.S. citizen before June 1, 2024. The announcement also includes updates to streamline the 212 (d) (3) waiver process for DACA recipients. This historic executive order is projected to enable more than half a million undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens, including nearly 100,000 DACA recipients, to seek parole in place. Marisa Limón Garza, Executive Director of Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, in El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico and New Mexico, said:
“Today's announcement is a testament to the unwavering commitment and advocacy of undocumented immigrants and impacted people. This plan will impact individuals who are deeply integrated into and have been contributing to our society and economy for more than a decade. But while we celebrate this historic win, extremist politicians are continuing to vow to deport all undocumented immigrants and separate millions of families as soon as they can get the chance. At the same time, states across the country are proposing bills, mimicking Texas' very own Senate Bill 4, that would grant police unchecked power to racially profile and strip immigrants from the communities they call home.
We urge the Biden administration to use today's victory as a recommitment to immigrant communities of all stripes. Now is the time to extend further protections and provide relief to the millions of mixed-status families, including those with DACA recipients and DACA-eligible youth, who have not yet received protection from the threat of deportation. Texas is home to the second-largest undocumented population in the U.S., and providing relief to these individuals and their communities would benefit millions of families who call the Lone Star State their home."