Essential Workers' Path to Citizenship Gets Easier
Under the Biden administration, many changes to immigration law are occurring or are planned. A group of Democratic senators and members of Congress have recently sent an official letter to the president urging a push for a faster path to citizenship for essential workers.[i] If the two-part plan passes, it could change a lot of things for individuals and families were currently working in the United States.
The Citizenship for Essential Workers Act
This plan, if Biden chooses to include it in his infrastructure package, will make it much easier for currently undocumented workers to legally obtain citizenship. The whole thing focuses on occasion, childcare, and legal immigration that will improve the lives of many people. The first step is a transition to a legal permanent resident. The later steps toward citizenship the help of a skilled immigration lawyer.
The international Covid 19 pandemic has affected both immigration and employment around the world. In the United States, approximately 75% of undocumented workers are in what are called essential jobs.[ii] For these people who keep the economy going, working at home is not an option. The idea that millions of essential workers could be deported immediately should upset us all.
Essential workers include those in the following industries:
· Agriculture
· Healthcare
· emergency response
· sanitation
· construction
· disaster recovery
· transportation, logistics, and warehousing
· Manufacturing
· Childcare
· Food in restaurants
Immigration Law as Part of the American Jobs and Families Plan
President Biden is currently working on a comprehensive plan to improve infrastructure across the country. It includes initiatives to promote green energy among other things when it comes to creating new jobs and supporting future-focused industries. It also focuses on education and childcare in large amounts.
The overall intention is to improve the failing and out of date infrastructure of our country in a way that helps create a fair foundation for workers who are already citizens and those currently undocumented. There is no question that essential workers of both kinds do an awful lot for the country. It could not operate without the millions performing these necessary jobs.
The letter to President Biden from the lawmakers points out how essential these workers really are. This is especially important during these difficult types affected by Covid 19. It goes on to point out that besides not having the luxury of working at home, many live in crowded and less than ideal residences that increase the risk of contracting the virus. Hard work, high risk, and dedication to the country they already call home should be rewarded with a path to citizenship.
Immigration law includes many different rules and regulations. With this new administration and arguments for and against different ideas, these laws change all the time. For currently undocumented workers deemed essential to the operation of the United States, the added confusion and hope needs to be addressed. Your best bet to contact an experienced immigration law attorney who can answer all your questions and help you navigate these changing rules.
[i] https://castro.house.gov/imo/media/doc/4.13.21%20Letter%20Citizenship%20for%20Essential%20Workers%20Letter.pdf
[ii] https://castro.house.gov/imo/media/doc/2.26.21%20Fact%20Sheet%20-%20Citizenship%20For%20Essential%20Workers%20Fact%20Sheet%20.pdf