Advocates, lawmakers, and advisers to the White House are calling for President Biden to expand work permits to certain long-settled immigrant caregivers. They are requesting that undocumented immigrants be allowed to apply for work permits if they have lived in the U.S. for at least 10 years, passed criminal background checks, and have a citizen or legal resident who would face hardship if their caregiver were deported. This could potentially benefit thousands of individuals living in the U.S., particularly parents of U.S. citizen children with disabilities who would face dire consequences if their caregiver were deported. The Immigration Hub is one of the advocacy groups pushing for this change.
Mirtha Arriaga, a mother of five in California and a board member of “American Families United,” is among those advocating for relief for immigrant caregivers. Arriaga’s husband is from Mexico and is undocumented, and she fears his deportation due to their children’s health needs and disabilities. She emphasizes the importance of her husband’s presence in caring for their children and discusses the daily fear she experiences over his potential deportation. Advocates argue that providing relief for caregivers could help boost President Biden’s re-election campaign by demonstrating a positive vision on immigration to critical voter segments, including Latinos.
Interest in extending legal status to long-settled undocumented immigrants is also present in battleground states like Nevada, where the Latino vote could be influential. The Nevada Latino Legislative Caucus and the AANHPI Nevada Legislative Caucus recently sent a letter to President Biden emphasizing the contributions of immigrants to communities and the economy. Polling by The Immigration Hub in battleground states indicates strong support for administrative actions that would allow long-settled immigrants to continue working and contributing to society. The ongoing discussions to expand protections for this group of immigrants coincide with President Biden’s recent announcement of expanded legal status for unauthorized immigrants married to U.S. citizens and measures to streamline the process for Dreamers and other undocumented immigrants to request waivers for temporary visas.
President Biden’s announcement of executive action to expand legal status for unauthorized immigrants married to U.S. citizens is met with both support and potential legal challenges from Republican-led states. Advocates believe that the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice have the legal authority to implement these changes and expand relief for undocumented immigrants. The discussions and efforts to provide relief for immigrant caregivers are seen as crucial steps in addressing the challenges faced by long-settled undocumented individuals and their families. Advocates are hopeful that these measures will not only alleviate the fears of deportation but also contribute positively to the communities and economy in which these individuals have long been a part of.
