Lopez: Biden’s immigration actions provide common-sense relief for families

President Biden on Tuesday announced major immigration news that marked a victory for many immigrant families and advocates across the country. New common-sense changes will make it easier for DACA recipients and certain undocumented individuals to qualify for work visas. Additionally, these changes will allow undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens and their children who have resided in the United States for more than 10 years to be shielded from deportation and to apply for work authorization through a “parole in place” program.

This announcement will undoubtedly have a huge positive impact, promising profound benefits for hundreds of thousands of families nationwide. We stand in unity and celebration with our immigrant community for getting the acknowledgment, respect, and support they rightfully deserve from our government. At the offices of La Unión del Pueblo Entero (LUPE), we are ready to help potential beneficiaries as soon as applications become available.

We attribute this victory to the relentless advocacy of organizers and immigrants who have demanded changes to our immigration policies for decades. President Biden’s announcement reflects the values that we have urged his administration to uphold. This victory exemplifies the power of collective action and underscores the importance of continued advocacy to shape inclusive policies.

We also recognize that this announcement comes amidst a pivotal political landscape, with the upcoming presidential election looming and other recent immigration announcements negatively impacting asylum seekers.

We remain committed to the millions of immigrant lives that are excluded from this affirmative relief. Millions of children, parents, caregivers, workers, and asylum-seekers will continue to live in uncertainty and fear of deportation. While a step in the right direction, these actions are not enough— Our communities deserve more. All immigrant families deserve to live in peace, safety, and under policies that uphold their human dignity.

Our work is far from over. There is no doubt that anti-immigrant extremists are already doing everything in their power to block any common-sense immigration relief. We have all intention to redouble our efforts in defense of our community’s rights and dignity. Today, and every day, we advocate for an immigration system founded on compassion, dignity, and fairness, for both long-time residents and newcomers just as we have for the past decades.

We encourage folks to visit our LUPE offices when applications open so we can assist our community with the process. For now, visit our website www.lupenet.org to sign up for updates related to today’s executive order.

Editor’s Note: The above guest column was penned by San Juan, Texas, native Portia Lopez, a community organizer and the director of communications for La Unión del Pueblo Entero (LUPE).

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