US Considers Granting 4000 Green Cards Yearly

Washington – President Joe Biden of the United States is considering granting green cards to approximately 4,000 undocumented immigrants facing deportation annually.

Reports indicate that these green cards would come with conditions, such as requiring a minimum residency of ten years and having no convictions for serious crimes.

Read more: Russia Pursues Visa-Free Travel With Asian And African Countries

Proposals from the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review, dating back to September 2023, aim to provide lawful permanent residency to thousands of migrants deemed to possess “good moral character” and facing exceptional and unusual hardship if deported.

However, the process is not immediate as applicants are cautioned about potential lengthy waits, with immigration judges responsible for approving applications, a process that could take years.

If the plan is approved – which would involve challenging negotiations and criticism – the immigrants would have the opportunity to integrate into society legally and breathe a sigh of relief.

Since assuming office, President Biden has taken various executive actions to reverse immigration policies implemented by his predecessor, Donald Trump, including terminating the controversial “Remain in Mexico” program.

The proposed changes come amid a surge in border crossings into the US in recent years, with border authorities apprehending a significant number of individuals on US terror watchlists. Fiscal years 2022 and 2023 saw as many as 270 such encounters, while 50 have been recorded so far in fiscal year 2024.

In the midst of debates on immigration and its ramifications, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas disclosed that over 85% of migrants entering the US are released into the country, raising concerns about border security and immigration enforcement.

The Biden administration’s expansion of humanitarian parole has also facilitated the entry of over 320,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela into the US. This policy came under scrutiny following the tragic murder of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley by a Venezuelan national who entered the country illegally in 2022.

While the fresh proposal on green cards awaits approval, Congressional Republicans have criticized the Biden administration for its departure from Trump-era immigration policies, accusing it of leniency in detaining and removing migrants.

Immigration is evidently taking center stage in US Politics, particularly against the backdrop of the upcoming presidential elections, and the potential award of Green Cards could further intensify the debate.