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By Ted Hesson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The White House is weighing ways to provide temporary legal status and work permits to immigrants in the U.S. illegally who are married to American citizens, three sources familiar with the matter said on Monday, a move that could energize some Democrats ahead of the November elections.

Democratic lawmakers and advocacy groups have pressured President Joe Biden to take steps to protect immigrants in the country illegally as Biden simultaneously considers executive actions to reduce illegal border crossings.

Immigration has emerged as a top voter concern, especially among Republicans ahead of the Nov. 5 election pitting Biden, a Democrat, against his Republican predecessor, Donald Trump. Trump has said Biden's less restrictive policies have led to a rise in illegal immigration.

The White House in recent months has considered the possibility of executive actions to block migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border if crossings reach a certain threshold, sparking criticism from some Democrats and advocates.

The Biden administration also has examined the possible use of "parole in place" for spouses of U.S. citizens, the sources said, requesting anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.

The temporary status would provide access to work permits and potentially a path to citizenship. No actions are imminent or finalized, the sources said.

A White House spokesperson said the administration "is constantly evaluating possible policy options" but declined to confirm discussions around specific actions.

"The administration remains committed to ensuring those who are eligible for relief can receive it quickly and to building an immigration system that is fairer and more humane," the spokesperson said.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the possible moves.

An estimated 1.1 million immigrants in the U.S. illegally are married to U.S. citizens, according to data by advocacy organization FWD.us.

A group of 86 Democrats sent a letter to Biden and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas last year urging them to protect spouses of U.S. citizens and create a family reunification process for those outside the country.

(Reporting by Ted Hesson in Washington; Editing by Richard Chang and Aurora Ellis)

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White House weighs immigration relief for spouses of US citizens - AOL

FAIR Take | April2024

Legal immigrants to the United States, who often wait for years to be allowed to enter, undergo background checks, travel to a government agency to submit biometrics, and incur significant expenses, have resented the presence of large numbers of illegal aliens who flout the rules and get away withit.

Now, they are being joined by millions of long-settled illegal aliens who are crying foul. As the Biden administration hands out Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) to millions of recently-arrived illegal aliens seeking asylum (mostly without merit) and millions more parolees, more-established illegal aliens are saying, Hey, what about us? As one illegal alientoldThe New York Times, For those of us here a long time trying to do everything right, its just not fair that we are forgotten, seemingly oblivious to the fact that getting away with living and working illegally in the U.S. does not mean he is doing everythingright.

Likewise, employers who are also flouting laws that prohibit them from hiring illegal aliens are also lobbying the Biden administration to keep the government churning out EADs to all illegal aliens, not just the newcomers. If President Biden can grant work permits to new arrivals, he can do it for people picking our crops, emptying bedpans and cleaning hotel rooms for more than 10 years, asserted Rebecca Shi, executive director of the American Business Immigration Coalition, abusiness-funded advocacy group.

The complaints of long-term illegal aliens and scofflaw employers appear to have found sympathetic ears in the Biden administration. None other than Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas seems to think they have a valid point. Earlier this month,Mayorkas agreedthat the illegal aliens who have entered under his watch are being treated better than the ones who came earlier and that it may be time to make thingsright.

I dont think that we have ignored the voices domestically that have spoken of the fact that we have undocumented individuals in the United States who have been undocumented and without work authorization for years and years, and yet people who cross the border and make a claim of asylum can proceed for authorization within 180 days after filing their asylum claim, saidMayorkas.

The only thing that may be holding him and the administration back at this point is that there is an election coming up in less than seven months. President Bidens handling of the border and illegal immigration is already ahuge political liability. The wholesale issuance of EADs to millions of illegal aliens would not only amount to a de facto amnesty, but would almost certainly trigger an even more massive wave of illegalimmigration.

However, issuing EADs to just about everyone who is here illegally would be a patently illegal abuse of executive authority, renderingkey provisionsof the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA) null and void. The intent of IRCA was to protect the employment opportunities of American workers, to eliminate the magnet of jobs in the U.S. by making it illegal for employers to hire illegal aliens, and to impose financial and even criminal penalties on employers who do. The law has been largely ignored by every president since Ronald Reagan and, under Mayorkas tenure at DHS, not enforcing the employer sanctions provisions of IRCA isofficial policy. But granting illegal aliens permission to work would represent a whole new level of contempt for IRCA and the American workers it was meant toprotect.

While it may be unlikely that the administration will yield to demands to grant EADs to long-term illegal aliens before the elections, Mayorkas statement could portend what might happen in a second Biden administration. Powerful mass amnesty advocacy groups are already demanding that the president grant parole and EADs to millions of illegal aliens who are already present in the United States. Parole is a powerful tool for the U.S. president that some argue could be used to protect undocumented individuals already within the U. S,opined the National Immigration Forum, last year. [P]arole, and parole-in-place more specifically, is part of the conversation regarding ways that would allow undocumented people to access temporary protections, NIFcontinued.

AsFAIR has documented, Mayorkas and the administration he serves, have systematically ignored or subverted countless immigration laws and replace them with their own ideologically-driven policies none more so than the administrations unprecedentedabuse of parole authorityto create what amounts to a shadow immigrationsystem.

Under the rubric of fairness for more established illegal aliens, the idea of EADs for everyone cannot be ruledout.

Continue reading here:
Long-Term Illegal Aliens Claim They are Being Discriminated Against and Demand Work Authorizations Too | FAIRUS ... - Federation for American...

By Ted Hesson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The White House is weighing ways to provide temporary legal status and work permits to immigrants in the U.S. illegally who are married to American citizens, three sources familiar with the matter said on Monday, a move that could energize some Democrats ahead of the November elections.

Democratic lawmakers and advocacy groups have pressured President Joe Biden to take steps to protect immigrants in the country illegally as Biden simultaneously considers executive actions to reduce illegal border crossings.

Immigration has emerged as a top voter concern, especially among Republicans ahead of the Nov. 5 election pitting Biden, a Democrat, against his Republican predecessor, Donald Trump. Trump has said Bidens less restrictive policies have led to a rise in illegal immigration.

The White House in recent months has considered the possibility of executive actions to block migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border if crossings reach a certain threshold, sparking criticism from some Democrats and advocates.

The Biden administration also has examined the possible use of parole in place for spouses of U.S. citizens, the sources said, requesting anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.

The temporary status would provide access to work permits and potentially a path to citizenship. No actions are imminent or finalized, the sources said.

A White House spokesperson said the administration is constantly evaluating possible policy options but declined to confirm discussions around specific actions.

The administration remains committed to ensuring those who are eligible for relief can receive it quickly and to building an immigration system that is fairer and more humane, the spokesperson said.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the possible moves.

An estimated 1.1 million immigrants in the U.S. illegally are married to U.S. citizens, according to data by advocacy organization FWD.us.

A group of 86 Democrats sent a letter to Biden and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas last year urging them to protect spouses of U.S. citizens and create a family reunification process for those outside the country.

(Reporting by Ted Hesson in Washington; Editing by Richard Chang and Aurora Ellis)

Read more:
White House weighs immigration relief for spouses of US citizens - SRN News

TODAY TO HEAR HIS LATEST THOUGHTS ON THE ISSUE. A BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW LAW ENFORCEMENT TO REMOVE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM OUR STATE PASSED THROUGH THE HOUSE THURSDAY AND NOW HEADS TO THE SENATE, GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT SAID TODAY IN HIS PRESS CONFERENCE THAT HE LIKES WHAT THE BILL IS DOING, BUT HE WANTS TO WAIT AND LET IT PLAY OUT BEFORE COMMITTING TO SIGNING. WERE GOING TO MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO COME HERE ILLEGALLY, NOT FOLLOW OUR RULES. HOUSE BILL 4156 LOOKS TO GIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT THE ABILITY TO ARREST AND REMOVE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN OKLAHOMA. REPUBLICANS ARE LOOKING AT THIS AS BORDER SECURITY, WHILE DEMOCRATS SAY IT WILL CAUSE PROFILING AND FAMILY SEPARATION. WERE CHOOSING POWER OVER PEOPLE AND ON THE PATH TO POWER. YOURE CREATING A PATH OF DESTRUCTION. LAWTON. ITS BEEN ELEVATED OVER AND OVER AGAIN. WHATS GOING TO HAPPEN TO HUMAN BEINGS? FRIDAY, AT HIS WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE, GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT TOUTED HIS SUPPORT FOR RESTRICTIONS ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, BUT WOULDNT SAY IF HELL SIGN THE BILL IF IT PASSES THE SENATE. IM NOT GOING TO MAKE A DECISION RIGHT NOW WHETHER ILL SIGN IT OR NOT. THERES TOO MANY VARIABLES ON, UH. UM, YOU KNOW WHATS IN THE BILL. OUR TEAM WILL WILL LOOK AT IT AND THEN WELL REVIEW THAT. AFTER HE WAS ASKED IF HE HAD ANY WORRIES ABOUT FAMILIES BEING SEPARATED WITH THIS BILL, HE SAYS THATS NOT HIS INTENTION. AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE TO BE A LAW AND ORDER STATE. WERE GOING TO BE IN OKLAHOMA. STITT ALSO SAYS HES PLANNING ON MEETING WITH THE MEXICAN CONSULATE TO TALK MORE ABOUT LEGAL IMMIGRATION. SO IM GOING TO MEET WITH THE CONSULATE GENERAL ON MONDAY TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY HOW WE CAN STOP THE CURB, MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE FOLLOWING THE LAW. HOW DO WE GET MORE VISAS IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA? HOW DO WE VET KNOW WHOS WORKING HERE? WE REACHED OUT TO THE MEXICAN CONSULATE TO ASK ABOUT THIS

Stitt hasn't committed to signing bill to allow law enforcement to remove undocumented immigrants

Republicans look at the bill as border security, but Democrats say it will cause profiling and family separation

Updated: 5:22 PM CDT Apr 19, 2024

Gov. Kevin Stitt says he hasn't committed to signing a bill moving through the state Capitol that would allow local law enforcement to remove undocumented immigrants from the state.The Oklahoma House passed House Bill 4156 and now heads to the state Senate. Stitt said on Friday that he likes what he's seeing with the immigration bill but added that he wants to let it play out before committing to signing.| MORE | Oklahoma bill aiming to allow local law enforcement remove illegal immigrants passes House"We're going to make it very difficult to come here illegally and not follow our rules," Stitt said.Republicans look at the bill as border security, but Democrats say it will cause profiling and family separation."We're choosing power over people. And on the path to power, you're creating a path of destruction. It's been elevated over and over again what's going to happen to human beings," state Rep. Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, on Thursday.During his weekly news conference, Stitt touted his support for restrictions on illegal immigration but wouldn't say if he'll sign the bill if it passes the Senate."I'm not going to make a decision right now whether I'll sign it or not," Stitt said. "There's too many variables on the bill. Our team will look at it, and we'll view that."After being asked if he had any worries about families being separated because of House Bill 4156, Stitt said that's not his intention.| MORE | Oklahoma Republicans, Democrats divided over immigration bill"At this time, we have to be a law-and-order state. We're going to be in Oklahoma," Stitt said.Stitt also said he's planning on meeting with the Mexican consulate to talk more about legal immigration."I'm going to meet with the consulate general on Monday to figure out exactly how we can stop the curve, make sure people are following the law," Stitt said. "How do we get more visas in the state of Oklahoma? How do we vet; know who's working here?"KOCO 5 has reached out to the Mexican consulate to ask about the meeting, but we haven't heard back.Top Headlines Reported stabbing at Yukon High School was false report, police and district say Remembrance ceremony to honor the 168 victims, survivors of Oklahoma City bombing 29 years later Oklahoma town shuts down recycling program indefinitely after company stops coming Could you hear loud booms in the OKC metro Wednesday night? Police explain what they were Oklahoma Republicans, Democrats divided over immigration bill

Gov. Kevin Stitt says he hasn't committed to signing a bill moving through the state Capitol that would allow local law enforcement to remove undocumented immigrants from the state.

The Oklahoma House passed House Bill 4156 and now heads to the state Senate. Stitt said on Friday that he likes what he's seeing with the immigration bill but added that he wants to let it play out before committing to signing.

| MORE | Oklahoma bill aiming to allow local law enforcement remove illegal immigrants passes House

"We're going to make it very difficult to come here illegally and not follow our rules," Stitt said.

Republicans look at the bill as border security, but Democrats say it will cause profiling and family separation.

"We're choosing power over people. And on the path to power, you're creating a path of destruction. It's been elevated over and over again what's going to happen to human beings," state Rep. Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, on Thursday.

During his weekly news conference, Stitt touted his support for restrictions on illegal immigration but wouldn't say if he'll sign the bill if it passes the Senate.

"I'm not going to make a decision right now whether I'll sign it or not," Stitt said. "There's too many variables on the bill. Our team will look at it, and we'll view that."

After being asked if he had any worries about families being separated because of House Bill 4156, Stitt said that's not his intention.

| MORE | Oklahoma Republicans, Democrats divided over immigration bill

"At this time, we have to be a law-and-order state. We're going to be in Oklahoma," Stitt said.

Stitt also said he's planning on meeting with the Mexican consulate to talk more about legal immigration.

"I'm going to meet with the consulate general on Monday to figure out exactly how we can stop the curve, make sure people are following the law," Stitt said. "How do we get more visas in the state of Oklahoma? How do we vet; know who's working here?"

KOCO 5 has reached out to the Mexican consulate to ask about the meeting, but we haven't heard back.

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Gov. Kevin Stitt hasn't committed to signing new illegal immigration bill - KOCO Oklahoma City

COMING UP. JESS. ALL RIGHT, DAMON, THANK YOU. WELL, FIGHT OVER IMMIGRATION AT THE STATE CAPITOL. A NEW BILL MOVED FORWARD TODAY TO ALLOW LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO REMOVE UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS. OF COURSE, IMMIGRATION IS USUALLY HANDLED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. COCO ANDY WEBER JOINING US LIVE ON THIS, ANDY, LAWMAKERS DIVIDED ALONG PARTY LINES. YEAH, AND ITS A BITTER DIVIDE. REPUBLICANS SAY THEYRE TRYING TO PROTECT OKLAHOMANS. MEANWHILE, DEMOCRATS CONTEND THIS BILL WILL ATTACK AND HARM A VITAL AND VULNERABLE POPULATION. WERE CHOOSING POWER OVER PEOPLE AND ON THE PATH TO POWER. YOURE CREATING A PATH OF DESTRUCTION. ITS BEEN ELEVATED OVER AND OVER AGAIN. WHATS GOING TO HAPPEN TO HUMAN BEINGS? IM PROUD TO DO SOMETHING. I AM PROUD TO STAND ONCE AGAIN, TO STAND UP IN THE GAP FOR THE CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS TOTALLY DIVIDED OVER AN IMMIGRATION BILL HEARD THURSDAY ON THE HOUSE FLOOR. HOUSE BILL 4156 CREATES THE CRIME OF IMPERMISSIBLE OCCUPATION AND ALLOWS LAW ENFORCEMENT TO REMOVE UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS FROM THE STATE HOUSE. REPUBLICANS CLAIM RACIAL PROFILING IS NOT POSSIBLE BECAUSE POLICE OFFICERS CAN ONLY CHECK IMMIGRATION STATUS WHEN INVESTIGATING A CRIME. THE STANDARD TO STOP SOMEONE AND ASK FOR IDENTIFICATION IS REASONABLE, ARTICULABLE SUSPICION OF THE COMMISSION OF A CRIME. DEMOCRATS NOT CONVINCED, ACCUSING THE MAJORITY OF PUSHING THIS BILL BECAUSE IT IS AN ELECTION YEAR AND ARGUE IT WONT SOLVE WHATS CAUSING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IN THE FIRST PLACE. THIS BILL IS STRICTLY POLITICAL. THIS IS NOT A SUBSTANTIVE SOLUTION TO THE IMMIGRATION CRISIS. THIS IS NOT POLICY FOCUSED. ITS NOT SOLUTION FOCUSED. ITS STRICTLY FOCUSED ON POLITICS, CAMPAIGN MESSAGING. MAJORITY FLOOR LEADER JOHN ECCLES SAYS HIS PRIORITY IS PROTECTING OKLAHOMANS AND ARGUES THIS BILL WILL DO EXACTLY THAT. YES, I AGREE, CLOSING THE SOUTHERN BORDER IS IN A PATH TO CITIZENSHIP TOGETHER IS WHATS BEST FOR THE FUTURE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA. BUT I DONT HAVE THE POWER TO CREATE A PATH FOR CITIZENSHIP. NOT IN THIS BODY. AND HAVING PASSED ALONG PARTY LINES WITH A VOTE OF 77 TO 20, IT NOW MOVES ACROSS THE CAPITOL TO T

Oklahoma Republicans, Democrats divided over immigration bill

Republicans say they're trying to protect Oklahomans. Democrats call it an attack on a vulnerable and important population

Updated: 6:51 PM CDT Apr 18, 2024

Oklahoma lawmakers are divided over a new immigration bill that would allow local law enforcement to remove undocumented immigrants from the state.Republicans say they're trying to protect Oklahomans. Democrats call it an attack on a vulnerable and important population. | MORE | Oklahoma bill aiming to allow local law enforcement remove illegal immigrants passes House"We're choosing power over people. And on the path to power, you're creating a path of destruction. It's been elevated over and over again what's going to happen to human beings," said state Rep. Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City. Democrats and Republicans are totally divided over House Bill 4156, which was passed off the House floor on Thursday. The measure creates the crime of impermissible occupation and allows law enforcement to remove undocumented immigrants from the state. | MORE | Oklahoma lawmakers announce proposed bill to increase punishment for undocumented immigrantsHouse Republicans argue that the bill does not enable racial profiling. They maintain that police can only check immigration status when investigating a crime. "The standard to stop someone and ask for identification is reasonable, articulable suspicion of the commission of a crime," said state Rep. Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City.Democrats, however, remain unconvinced. They accuse the majority of pushing this bill because it is an election year and argue that it won't address the root causes of illegal immigration. "This bill is strictly political. This is not a substantive solution to the immigration crisis. This is not policy focused. This is not solution focused. It's strictly focused on politics, campaign messaging," said State Rep. Arturo Alonso Sandoval, D-Oklahoma City.| MORE | Oklahoma immigration bill faces backlash from Latino CaucusEchols, the majority floor leader, maintains that his priority is protecting Oklahomans. He argues that this bill will do exactly that. "Yes, I agree closing the southern border and a path to citizenship together is what's best for the future of the state of Oklahoma, but I don't have the power to create a path to citizenship, not in this body," Echols said.The bill has now passed along party lines with a vote of 77-20 and moves to the Senate.Top Headlines Could you hear loud booms in the OKC metro Wednesday night? Police: Woman taken to hospital in critical condition after crash involving semi in northwest OKC Man beaten unconscious in gas station, police search for suspect Astronomers spot a massive sleeping giant black hole less than 2,000 light-years from Earth New York state troopers helped deliver a baby in a Lowe's parking lot

Oklahoma lawmakers are divided over a new immigration bill that would allow local law enforcement to remove undocumented immigrants from the state.

Republicans say they're trying to protect Oklahomans. Democrats call it an attack on a vulnerable and important population.

| MORE | Oklahoma bill aiming to allow local law enforcement remove illegal immigrants passes House

"We're choosing power over people. And on the path to power, you're creating a path of destruction. It's been elevated over and over again what's going to happen to human beings," said state Rep. Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City.

Democrats and Republicans are totally divided over House Bill 4156, which was passed off the House floor on Thursday. The measure creates the crime of impermissible occupation and allows law enforcement to remove undocumented immigrants from the state.

| MORE | Oklahoma lawmakers announce proposed bill to increase punishment for undocumented immigrants

House Republicans argue that the bill does not enable racial profiling. They maintain that police can only check immigration status when investigating a crime.

"The standard to stop someone and ask for identification is reasonable, articulable suspicion of the commission of a crime," said state Rep. Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City.

Democrats, however, remain unconvinced. They accuse the majority of pushing this bill because it is an election year and argue that it won't address the root causes of illegal immigration.

"This bill is strictly political. This is not a substantive solution to the immigration crisis. This is not policy focused. This is not solution focused. It's strictly focused on politics, campaign messaging," said State Rep. Arturo Alonso Sandoval, D-Oklahoma City.

| MORE | Oklahoma immigration bill faces backlash from Latino Caucus

Echols, the majority floor leader, maintains that his priority is protecting Oklahomans. He argues that this bill will do exactly that.

"Yes, I agree closing the southern border and a path to citizenship together is what's best for the future of the state of Oklahoma, but I don't have the power to create a path to citizenship, not in this body," Echols said.

The bill has now passed along party lines with a vote of 77-20 and moves to the Senate.

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Oklahoma House passes immigration bill amid bitter divide - KOCO Oklahoma City