Immigration reform is on the horizon

Friends,I’m reaching out today because, like many people, I am looking forward to tomorrow’s inauguration and a new day for immigrants in the U.S. President-elect Joe Biden plans to unveil a sweeping immigration bill on Day One of his administration, hoping to provide an 8-year path to citizenship for an estimated 11 million people living in the U.S. without legal status. We are very hopeful as we learn more details about the plan.This is a dramatic reversal of Trump era policies, which had devastating consequences for Oregon’s 432,000 immigrants and their families, including 13,000 Dreamers. After four years of restrictive policies and mass deportations, Biden’s plan provides one of the fastest pathways to citizenship for those living without legal status. DACAistas, agricultural workers, and people under temporary protective status could qualify more immediately for green cards if they are working, are in school, or meet other requirements.President-elect Biden is also expected to issue several executive orders during his first days in office to help immigrant rights groups locate and unite migrant families separated during the “zero tolerance” border crackdown and to rescind the outgoing Administration’s travel and immigrations restrictions on 13 countries, most of which are majority Muslim or African. We expect more legislation to be introduced during the new Administration’s first 100 days.Our recent Oregon Immigrant Legal Needs Assessment documents that legal status is the fundamental portal through which an immigrant acquires the most basic of human rights, including freedom from violence, access to healthcare and education opportunities, and the ability to earn a living wage. Without status, immigrants are condemned to living on the margins of society, ripe for exploitation and discrimination, vulnerable to poverty and illness, denied education opportunities, and gripped by unrelenting fear. Access to high-quality and low- or no-cost proactive immigration legal services is the pathway out of life in the shadows.At ICS we are gearing up for expected significant increases in our caseloads, especially from Dreamers filing for DACA status. We have been working diligently with partners and allies to introduce legislation that would put immigration legal services on par with legal aid providers in Oregon for government support. SB389 would allocate $10 million in grants to eligible agencies providing immigration-related services and supports. This funding will enable ICS and other nonprofit legal service providers to ramp up capacity to assist the anticipated influx of immigrants pursuing legal status pathways.We are committed to keeping you informed about national and state legislative initiatives and any important calls to action. We thank you for walking along side us in ensuring justice for immigrants and look forward to all that we can accomplish together in the next 100 days and the next four years.Mil gracias,Frank GarciaExecutive Director