We have more information about Biden's upcoming immigration bill.
What it doesn't do: Instantly make every illegal immigrant a citizen. Anyone cliaming that is lying.
What it does do: Farm workers, Temporary Protected Status holders (basically refugees) and those who came over as children can apply for green cards. If they behave for three years, including paying taxes and staying on the radar, they can become citizens through the usual policy.
Everyone else needs eight years. During which, they too have to get background checks, pay taxes, and stay where the government can see them.
It is
only retroactive, by which I mean, you have to prove you got here by Dec 31, 2020. Anyone showing up this year cannot benefit. Unless they are just now returning to the US, after living here for three or more years but then evicted by Trump.
it would also limit the President's power to evict a "category" of immigrants, which I would assume means race or country of origin.
The per-country caps for immigration would be raised, and also, a family all applying at once counts as one. (Spouses and children of an applicant don't count towards the cap)
My personal favorite? There's a reserve of 30,000 visas that the government can give to immigrants who were the victims of serious crimes, and who helped law enforcement. In other words, if someone is attacked for being an immigrant,
they're given permission to stay.
Once again, this is not instant amnesty. This is preparing a path for people who proved they want to live here, as long as they follow the same rules as everyone else.
This feels like a massive highball, and some of the provisions will probably be stripped by the Senate GOP if it has any chance to pass.