President Biden’s 100 days in Office
As we passed the mark of President Biden’s 100 days in office, many immigration advocates are evaluating how he has done so far. Opinions are mixed. At this stage, the President seems to acknowledge the immigration bill he sent to Congress in his first days in office is too broad and will not get the support it needs from both parties to get passed. Instead, the focus now seems to be on passing smaller key pieces of legislation that Congress can find middle ground on.
“If you don’t like my plan, let’s at least pass what we all agree on. Congress needs to pass legislation this year to finally secure protection for DREAMers, the young people who have only known America as their home,” the President said in his joint address to Congress last week.
Indeed, the focus seems to be on the two smaller bills we discussed last month: H.R. 6, which protects DREAMers, and H.R. 1603, which protects immigrant farmworkers. These have passed the House, but are hung up in the Senate.
Collection and Use of Biometrics by USCIS
In other news, last week the Department of Homeland Security withdrew a proposed rule requiring submission of biometrics for every applicant, petitioner, sponsor, beneficiary, or other individual filing for or associated with any immigration or naturalization benefit or request. This is great news for anyone committed to privacy and a faster, less onerous immigration petition process.