President Joe Biden’s proposed U.S. Citizenship Act of 2023 attempts to reverse former President Donald Trump’s executive actions and modernize the immigration system.
It aims to restore humanity, end discrimination, and reform the terminology used in immigration legislation.
The measure provides undocumented individuals, Dreamers, and TPS recipients with avenues to citizenship while also upgrading family-based and humanitarian systems, reforming employment-based immigration, and fostering economic growth.
The following phases involve negotiating the legislative process and responding to critiques in order to reach common ground.
With President Biden now in charge of the United States, several items are likely to alter or be added to existing laws.
One of these is the United States Citizenship Act of 2021. It has something to do with immigration. If you want to learn more, this page will go over the Citizenship Act and what it entails.
What Is the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2023?
Joe Biden has proposed the United States Citizenship Act of 2023. It is a legislative proposal made on Joe Biden’s first day as president.
Its purpose is to reverse a number of executive actions taken by former President Donald Trump.
As a result, there may be a better legislative road for people seeking immigration benefits in the United States.
This act includes undocumented immigrants as well.
Why is the U.S. Citizenship Act being enacted?
It was easy to observe that there was a lot of focus on immigration during Joe Biden’s presidential campaign.
As a result, the Biden administration intended to begin working on it as soon as the new president took office.
They claimed that on his first day as president, Joe Biden would put together a large bill containing numerous immigration-related provisions.
The pledges made throughout the campaign were also contained in the bill.
President Joe Biden wants to erase what Donald Trump did while overhauling the United States’ immigration system.
Essentially, he wants to modernize the immigration system while also encouraging family togetherness and ensuring economic growth.
Furthermore, President Joe Biden and his administration want the United States to act as a safe haven for refugees fleeing hazardous countries.
This is why the United States Citizenship Act was passed.
What Are the Purposes of the U.S. Citizenship Act?
Have you ever wondered what the objective of the United States Citizenship Act is? Here’s what you should know:
1. Resetting the Immigration System’s Tone
The proposed proposal is intended to make significant changes to the present immigration rules. Essentially, the new act declares that it seeks to restore humanity and American ideals to the country’s immigration system, thus enhancing it.
As most people are aware, Donald Trump and his administration attempted to restrict immigration, which impacted a large number of people.
Several executive orders and regulations were issued in order to restrict immigration and allow fewer people to enter the United States.
People noticed prejudice in Trump’s executive orders and regulations, particularly after one of his first executive orders, dubbed the “Muslim ban” by many. This directive was revoked by a separate presidential proclamation.
As a result, the Biden administration wishes to alter things and prevent discriminatory restrictions.
What they want to do is put an end to and outlaw religious prejudice.
Furthermore, they want to limit the president’s ability to issue similar bans in the future.
Another purpose of the proposed bill is to change the text of immigration laws and statutes. The term “alien” is frequently used in immigration regulations to refer to noncitizens and foreign people.
The new statute suggests changing this phrase to “noncitizen” instead.
2. Reforming the Immigration System and Creating Pathways to Citizenship
The United States Citizenship Act of 2021 is intended to change certain aspects of the United States’ present immigration system. specifically, it will provide greater options to people who are undocumented immigrants or have temporary status and want to become citizens.
Furthermore, it wishes to improve the general efficiency of employment-based immigrant processes.
3. Pathways to Citizenship for Undocumented People, Dreamers, and TPS Recipients
There is an eight-year path to citizenship for those with unlawful status in the United States who were physically present in the country on January 1, 2021.
However, it is vital to remember that this pathway comprises two parts.
The first phase will provide illegal immigrants with temporary legal status. The individual has the right to apply for permanent residency after five years.
Of course, there are some requirements: the individual must pay taxes, pass background checks, and perform other tasks.
In the second phase, people with green cards who pass additional background checks and demonstrate an understanding of English and U.S. civics would be able to apply to become U.S. citizens.
Three categories of people have been at the forefront of immigration law in recent years. These are Dreamers, TPS recipients, and undocumented people.
They will be able to apply for permanent residency under the new legislation, which will be a significant benefit.
3. Modernization of Family-Based and Humanitarian Systems
Another goal of the new legislation is to help clear backlogs, eliminate excessive wait times, boost visa caps per nation, and reclaim unused visas. This would contribute to the reform of the family-based immigration system.
The new act aims to repeal the three and ten-year sentences and prevent further families from being separated.
Instead, the purpose is to provide assistance to families.
This will be accomplished through the inclusion of long-term partnerships and the elimination of any discrimination faced by LGBTQ+ families.
And, because there have been exceptionally long wait times for green cards for years, the new bill would be able to lower the wait times.
As a result, persons with approved family-sponsorship applications would be able to temporarily join their families in the United States. They will both be waiting for green card availability.
Not to mention, the law would abolish the one-year deadline for submitting asylum applications. It wishes to assist by providing cash to decrease backlogs in asylum applications.
Aside from that, the Act seeks to strengthen protections for T visa, U visa, and VAWA applicants.
The annual maximum on U visas would be lifted from 10,000 to 30,000 and reserved for crime victims.
4. Employment-Based Immigration Restructuring
Finally, the new bill aims to boost the United States’ economy. Economic development would be boosted by recapturing unused visas, clearing employment-based visa logs, eliminating per-country caps, and shortening long wait periods.
There will also be greater options for H1B visa holders’ dependents to obtain work permission. It supplements the present H4 Employment Authorization Document.
Conclusion
If you are an immigrant, you may be interested in President Biden and his administration’s new U.S. Citizenship Act. Keep an eye on the bill and see if things work out in your favor, as the road ahead is still long.
