Biden State of the Union Address: open citizenship up to over 10 million persons

President Biden called for Congress to “Provide a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, those on temporary status, farm workers, and essential workers.”

The proposal will effectively legalize 90% of unauthorized people in the U.S. Consistent with Democratic proposals, no mention was made of verification of employable status (e-Verify) without which immigration law enforcement will remain gutted.

In December 2021 I estimated that (1) about 2.3 million persons will be legalized through Dreamer legislation, (2) 5.5 essential workers and 1.7 of their spouses and children will be legalized through essential worker legislation and (3) about 300,000 farm workers (at a minimum) will be affected.

About 750,000 persons are now in the U.S. under the Temporary Protected Status category, including over 300,000 Venezuelans and a quarter million from El Salvador. Here and here are backgrounders on TPS.

Adding all up comes to about 9.8 million persons who arrived un authorized, and 750,000 persons here legally but on a temporary basis.

Here and here are backgrounders of Dreamer (DACA) legislation, including bills filed in calendar year 2021.




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