FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 19, 2020
Media Contact:
press@homeishere.us
Washington, D.C. — Yesterday, President Biden announced the biggest executive order to protect undocumented people since DACA was implemented in 2012. It is estimated that today’s executive order will allow roughly half a million undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens and their children, including an estimated 90,000 DACA recipients, to apply for parole in place. The order will clear a path for people to apply for protections, including work authorization, protection from deportation, and a possible pathway for adjustment of status for undocumented individuals who have lived in the United States for 10 years or more and have been married to a U.S. citizen as of June 17, 2024. Additionally, the executive order includes guidance to streamline D-3 waivers for employment-based visas for DACA and DACA-eligible youth with employment sponsorship.
By granting parole in place, this executive order would ensure eligible individuals will be able to apply for lawful permanent residence without having to leave the U.S. and risk a potentially indefinite period of separation from their family. Recently, over 120 national, state and local organizations and community leaders –including co-chairs of the Home is Here Coalition– sent a letter to the White House urging the President to deliver affirmative relief to millions of undocumented residents in the U.S. and build off of today’s announcement.
The Home Is Here Coalition — representing 100+ organizations across the country — released the following statement:
“Today’s historic victory could not have been possible without the bold and tireless organizing of immigrant communities and our allies across the country who have never given up on protecting each other and our loved ones. Immigrant young people who took action over a decade ago to push for and win DACA for hundreds of thousands of people have paved the way for today’s victory and have shown that Presidents, including President Biden, can exercise their power to protect and provide relief for our communities.
As DACA continues to face the very real threat of being dismantled by the 5th Circuit Court this year, today’s executive order will ensure tens of thousands of DACA recipients can continue to live in the places they call home with their loved ones and have the freedom to work and care for their families. If today’s victory is proof of anything, it is that the Biden Administration can continue to take even further action to strengthen and expand this relief now. The majority of DACA recipients live in mixed-status families and still will not benefit from today’s announcement despite having other loved ones, including children, who are U.S. citizens. We urge President Biden to protect all families and leverage today’s victory to include all DACA recipients, DACA-eligible young people and our communities.”
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The Home Is Here national coalition is fighting to protect DACA recipients, their families, and all immigrant communities at the U.S. Supreme Court. DACA recipients are undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children. They are also our nurses, our teachers, our coworkers, our family members, and our friends — and their home is here. For more information visit HomeIsHere.Us.