Local leader reacts to Biden's citizenship plan for immigrants

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A local leader is responding to the news from the White House this morning regarding President Biden's two executive actions, protecting DREAMers and noncitizen spouses and children of citizens.

These executive actions by the Biden administration allow certain spouses of U.S. citizens without legal status to apply for permanent residency and eventually citizenship.

In the coming months, the decision could affect half a million immigrants, according to the Associated Press.

U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) released the following statement after the announcement:

"I applaud the administration for working to protect DREAMers and noncitizen spouses and children of U.S. citizens. These executive actions will help keep American families united and strengthen our economy," said Cuellar. "This decision is a step forward for the thousands of DREAMers and noncitizen spouses and children of U.S. citizens in Texas. While it does not address wider immigration challenges, it promotes decisive action for immigration reform. We need a bipartisan comprehensive immigration approach to solve the challenges at our border and ensure that DREAMers and noncitizens spouses of U.S. citizens have a place in the nation that they love."

Biden's first executive action will make it easier for noncitizen spouses married to U.S. citizens and children of U.S. citizens to become permanent residents. The action stated spouses who meet the requirements given three years to apply for permanent residency without leaving the country.

Within those three years, they will also be eligible for work authorization.

"An estimated 6,000 undocumented individuals in TX-28 who are married to U.S. citizens could potentially benefit from this action," Cuellar said. "Most of the individuals who are eligible for this process have lived in the United States for an average of 23 years."

The second action will make the process to receive a work visa easier for college graduates.

"The executive action will allow DACA recipients and other DREAMers who have a college degree and a job offer from a high-skilled, U.S.-based company to more easily receive work visas," Cuellar said.