The order, signed by Biden on Tuesday, directs the Department of Justice to devise a plan for expanding access not just to public defenders but to the civil court system as well, where legal representation is not guaranteed by the government.
It’s an issue advocates say is timely since the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic could lead to a surge in tenants and homeowners fighting evictions and foreclosures, as well as those pushing for medical assistance.
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They also see it as an opening for the Biden administration to require access to an attorney in immigration courts a civil court setting where migrants can face life-altering outcomes like deportation.
Google joined 30 U.S.-based tech companies May 14 to file a âfriends of the courtâ amicus brief supporting H-4 EAD, work authorization for spouses of H-1B workers on track for green cards.
âGoogle is proud to support our nationâs immigrants. We joined 30 other companies to protect the H-4 EAD program which spurs innovation, creates jobs and opportunities, and helps families,â tweeted Google Indian American CEO Sundar Pichai.
âH-4 EAD authorizations for the spouses of high-skilled workers help American companies recruit and retain the worldâs best talent,â tweeted Kent Walker, senior vice president of global affairs at Google.
Why an Estimated 100,000 Americans Abroad Face Passport Problems
Consular appointments for U.S. citizens overseas are nearly impossible to come by as many embassies, plagued by Covid restrictions and staff reductions, remain all but closed.
Yona Shemesh, a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen who lives in Israel, ended up paying $450 to a broker for a booked appointment to renew his American passport. He tried for eight months to do so himself at the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem.Credit.Tanya Habjouqa for The New York Times
By Debra Kamin
May 6, 2021, 5:00 a.m. ET
Yona Shemesh, 24, was born in Los Angeles, but he moved to Israel with his family at age 9. In July 2020, as the Covid-19 pandemic was raging, he booked a ticket to Los Angeles to visit his grandparents in June 2021, knowing that he would have nearly an entire year to renew his American passport, which had long since expired.
Then, he found a new position. But months later, his room in Madison, Wisconsin, was still empty enough to hear echoes, and he continued to sleep on an air mattress, too wary to invest in replacement furniture.
âThis is not your home,â he said. âSo you can be kicked out any time.â
Swarajâs experience is far from a one-off. From data analysts and software consultants to project engineers and molecular biologists, many foreigners with advanced degrees and specialized knowledge have been losing their jobs in America amid the pandemic. And because theyâre only able to live and work legally in the US thanks to their H-1B status â a coveted visa for skilled workers â routine layoffs that arenât their fault have the potential to completely upend their lives.