New York AG James: Biden s orders address issues state had sued over by Steve Bittenbender, The Center Square | January 22, 2021 10:00 AM Print this article
President Joe Biden’s first day in office was a busy one as he signed several executive orders that countermanded policies from the Trump Administration. Those orders allowed New York Attorney General Letitia James to breathe “a sigh of relief” as they impacted lawsuits the state has filed over the last two years.
In a statement, James said her office filed 76 lawsuits against the former administration over such issues as the 2020 Census, immigration policies and protections for the LGBTQ+ community.
Advocates for immigration reform may feel a sense of relief, but itâs a very guarded one as, on his first day in office Wednesday, President Joe Biden proposed to Congress a sweeping set of changes.
So-called Dreamers such as 22-year-old Jose Chiquito Galvan of Goshen, who are protected by DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, would get green cards â as would farm workers and people with temporary protected status.
And an eight-year path to citizenship, including background checks, would open up for the estimated 11 million people in the United States without legal status.
âFor those whoâve been involved in immigration advocacy work in two or three (presidential) administrations, weâre used to getting promises and there being shortcomings,â Chiquito Galvan said. âThe road has been long and arduous.â
Molly Butler / Media Matters
As President Joe Biden recently unveiled his plan to reform U.S. immigration policy, some legacy national and local media outlets have been quoting well-known anti-immigrant extremist groups to provide commentary on the plan.
Days before he was sworn in as president, Biden disclosed that he was going to propose ambitious plans for an “overhaul of immigration laws” on his first day in office, including creating “an eight-year pathway to citizenship for immigrants without legal status.” Qualifying immigrants would receive a temporary status for five years and then a green card once they meet certain requirements, becoming eligible to apply for citizenship three years later.
Under the Biden administration, the Department of Homeland Security looks set to roll back several Trump-era immigration policies and to establish a path to citizenship for immigrants.
I was crying but out of joy: Bay Area residents applaud Biden s immigration plan
FacebookTwitterEmail
1of3
DACA recipient Vanessa Mejia and her mother, Connie, watch from their living room in Oakland, Calif., as US President Joe Biden takes the oath of office at the US Capitol in Washington, DC on Wednesday, January 20, 2021.Scott Strazzante / The ChronicleShow MoreShow Less
2of3
DACA recipient Vanessa Mejia and her mother, Connie, applaud from their living room in Oakland, Calif., as US Vice President Kamala Harris takes the oath of office at the US Capitol in Washington, DC on Wednesday, January 20, 2021.Scott Strazzante / The ChronicleShow MoreShow Less