Biden to propose 8-year citizenship path for immigrants

President-elect Joe Biden plans to unveil a sweeping immigration bill on Day One of his administration, hoping to provide an eight-year path to citizenship for an estimated 11 million people living in U.S. without legal status, a massive reversal from Trump administration's harsh immigration policies.

legislation puts Biden on track to deliver on a major campaign promise important to Lati voters and or immigrant communities after four years of President Donald Trump's restrictive policies and mass deportations. It provides one of fastest pathways to citizenship for those living without legal status of any measure in recent years, but it fails to include traditional trade-off of enhanced border security favored by many Republicans, making pass in a narrowly divided Congress in doubt.

Expected to run hundreds of ps, bill is set to be introduced after Biden takes oath of office Wednesday, according to a person familiar with legislation and granted anymity to discuss it. As a candidate, Biden called Trump’s actions on immigration an “unrelenting assault” on American values and said he would “undo dam” while continuing to maintain border enforcement.

Under legislation, those living in U.S. as of Jan. 1, 2021, without legal status would have a five-year path to temporary legal status, or a green card, if y pass background checks, pay taxes and fulfill or basic requirements. From re, it's a three-year path to naturalization, if y decide to pursue citizenship.

For some immigrants, process would be quicker. So-called Dreamers, young people who arrived in U.S. illegally as children, as well as agricultural workers and people under temporary protective status could qualify more immediately for green cards if y are working, are in school or meet or requirements.

bill is t as comprehensive as last major immigration overhaul proposed when Biden was vice president during Obama administration. For example, it does t include a robust border security element, but rar calls for coming up with strategies. r does it create any new guest worker or or visa programs.

It does address some of root causes of migration from Central America to United States, and provides grants for workforce development and English langu learning. Biden is expected to take swift executive actions to reverse or Trump immigration actions, including an end to prohibition on arrivals from several predominantly Muslim countries.

During Democratic primary, Biden consistently named immigration action as one of his “day one” priorities, pointing to range of executive powers he could invoke to reverse Trump’s policies.Biden allies and even some Republicans have identified immigration as a major issue where new administration could find common ground with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and eugh or GOP senators to avoid stalemate that has vexed administrations of both parties for decades.

That kind of major win — even if it involves compromise — could be critical as Biden looks for legislative victories in a closely divided Congress, where Republicans are certain to oppose or Biden priorities that involve rolling back some of GOP’s 2017 tax cuts and increasing federal spending. As a candidate, Biden went so far as to say Obama administration went too far in its aggressive deportations.

(Im Credit: AP)