It was only a matter of time before Joe Biden fulfilled the left’s expectations. Under the guise of “keeping families together,” he has announced a new set of executive actions that will effectively grant amnesty to hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants in the United States.
In a statement from the White House on Tuesday, Biden falsely claimed, “Since his first day in office, President Biden has called on Congress to secure our border and address our broken immigration system.” Predictably, the statement blamed congressional Republicans for the failure to secure the border—a talking point that has consistently failed to persuade the public.
Biden’s new actions, ostensibly to provide peace of mind and stability to mixed-status families and young people educated in this country, include measures for Dreamers. The White House insists these actions will help keep American families together and allow more young people to contribute to the economy. This rhetoric masks the reality that Biden is bypassing Congress to implement a broad amnesty program.
According to the White House, the executive actions will permit illegal immigrant spouses and children of American citizens to remain in the country. The administration claims this will “promote family unity and strengthen our economy,” suggesting it provides significant benefits to the country by helping U.S. citizens and their noncitizen family members stay together. However, this overlooks the potential strain on resources and the job market for American citizens.
To be eligible, noncitizens must have resided in the United States for 10 or more years as of June 17, 2024, and be legally married to a U.S. citizen. The White House asserts that eligible individuals have lived in the United States for an average of 23 years. Those approved after a case-by-case assessment by DHS will receive a three-year period to apply for permanent residency, allowing them to stay with their families and obtain work authorization. This policy aims to cover around 500,000 spouses of U.S. citizens and approximately 50,000 noncitizen children under 21.
This week, in a grim reminder of the potential dangers of unchecked immigration, one of Biden’s illegal immigrants from El Salvador was finally apprehended for the 2023 rape and murder of Rachel Morin, a mother of five, from Maryland. The timing of Biden’s announcement is particularly galling, highlighting the administration’s disregard for the safety and concerns of American citizens.
Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) condemned the timing and the nature of Biden’s executive actions, calling it a politically motivated sham. “Rolling out this unlawful order for mass amnesty as the country mourns the death of Rachel Morin at the hands of an illegal migrant is a disgrace,” Cotton stated. This latest move by the Biden administration underscores the urgent need for genuine border security and immigration reform that prioritizes American citizens.
