Know the Possible Changes under the Immigration Overhaul Bill by the Democrats

Posted by Berd & Klauss, PLLC on April 7th, 2021

If you have recently been in touch with an immigration lawyer in Manhattan NY, you can learn more about the immigration overhaul bill that is being proposed by Congressional Democrats and endorsed by President Joe Biden. The bill should provide the changes that could improve the chances for illegal immigrants to obtain their citizenship.

Known as the ‘US Citizenship Act of 2021,’ the bill was introduced on Thursday, February 18, 2021 by Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., and Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif. One of its notable points is the eight-year path to citizenship for people who are already in the US but arrived unlawfully in the country by January 1, 2021. This means that the bill may eliminate the hurdles experienced by most workers looking to immigrate legally to the US. Moreover, resources for screening at borders will be added, and the word ‘alien’ will be changed to ‘noncitizen’ to make it less derogatory.

According to Menendez, they have a moral and economic imperative to pass an inclusive immigration reform. He added that Democrats have failed to tackle the issue in the past because they compromised more and capitulated quickly to fringe voices that deny the humanity of immigrants and prioritized white nationalists. Many immigration lawyers welcome the changes, saying that they are essential in modernizing the system and in moving away from how the previous administration handled immigrants.

The US Citizenship Act of 2021 closely represents President Biden’s proposal, which he drafted on his first day as president to fulfill one of his promises to the voters in his campaign. That said, the issue has been tricky to him politically. Immigration activists think he is partly responsible for the early focus on delays and crackdowns on pursuing an overhaul.

Many people are glad that President Biden is seemingly taking an opposite approach this time by initiating a move to fulfill a progressive vision. However, there is still a chance for the bill to not to pass. That is why it’s important to stay in touch with a good immigration lawyer from Manhattan NY for any updates and advice on how it affects your particular case.

About the Author:

This content is written by Patrick Klauss, Esq, who is an immigration lawyer and a partner at Berd&Klauss, PLLC. The firm specializes in immigration & immigration-related issues and handles everything from immigrant visas to deportation and waivers.