The Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS) has urged the Biden administration to incorporate documented dreamers and spouses of backlogged green card applicants into its recently unveiled immigration policy.
On June 18th, President Biden announced that “undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens residing in the U.S. for 10 or more years can apply for expedited citizenship. Additionally, undocumented children with college education will be eligible for immediate work visas and future legal residency.”
In response to Biden’s announcement, FIIDS in its statement stated, “We recognize President Biden’s commitment to keeping American families together and his intentions to promote family unity and strengthen the economy.” But, also pointed out that the Biden administration overlooked an “opportunity to include hundreds of thousands of spouses of legal, tax-paying, contributing immigrants” who are facing long waits for green cards due to the 7 per cent per-country quota.
“Their US educated children are becoming out of status at 21. They too have dreams; they are dreamers too. Just because they are illegal, they shouldn’t be excluded from such measures,” the statement added.
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The statement further encouraged the Biden administration to enable Employment Authorization Document (EAD) for children upon obtaining a college degree or reaching the age of 21, whichever comes first; allow spouses of backlogged immigrants, who have been waiting for more than 10 years to obtain an EAD if they do not already have it. Additionally, permit these spouses to file for a green card independently of their employment-based green card applications, ensuring they are not hindered by the seven per cent country cap on employment-based green cards.
