President Biden’s campaign manager, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, appeared on CBS News’ “America Decides” for an interview with Fin Gomez where she was asked about the timing and potential political motivations behind President Biden’s new executive order providing a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants. Rodriguez emphasized that immigration reform has been a priority of the Biden administration since day one and criticized former President Trump for his stance on immigration issues. She highlighted the importance of the new policy in keeping families together and ensuring they are not separated by cruel policies, stating that it would provide relief to those eligible for the executive order.
In response to questions about whether the executive order was a political move to maintain support among Latino voters, Rodriguez defended President Biden’s track record on immigration, including expanding the Affordable Care Act for DACA recipients. The issue of border security was not raised during the interview. While many Latino voters are turning away from President Biden, Rodriguez emphasized the positive impact of the executive order on mixed-status families, stating that it will allow them to remain together as a whole family in the country. She highlighted the emotional relief that families would experience as a result of the policy.
President Biden announced on Tuesday that his administration will allow U.S. citizens’ spouses without legal status to apply for permanent residency and eventual citizenship without having to leave the country for up to 10 years. Approximately 500,000 immigrants may benefit from this policy, provided they have lived in the U.S. for 10 years and are married to a U.S. citizen. The executive order also includes new regulations to facilitate the process for DACA beneficiaries and other young immigrants to qualify for work visas. While the DACA program required applicants to have been in the U.S. on June 15, 2012, the new policy expands eligibility to more individuals.
The Obama-era DACA program has protected hundreds of thousands of individuals who came to the U.S. as young children from deportation. More than one million illegal immigrants in the U.S. are married to American citizens, but not all of them will qualify for the new pathway to citizenship due to the 10-year residency requirement. Approximately 50,000 noncitizen children with parents who are married to U.S. citizens could potentially benefit from the executive order. The policy aims to provide relief to families who have been impacted by immigration laws and strengthen ties between immigrants and citizens.
President Biden’s campaign team and the White House have not commented on the timing or political motivations behind the executive order. The administration’s focus on immigration reform, particularly in relation to family reunification and citizenship pathways, aligns with their broader policy goals. While questions have been raised about the impact of the executive order on Latino voter support, Rodriguez emphasized the compassionate nature of the policy and its potential to alleviate the fears and anxieties of mixed-status families. The new regulations signal a shift in immigration policy that aims to provide relief and opportunity to a significant number of individuals living in the U.S. under uncertain circumstances.
