Analysis: Biden’s Executive Order Isn’t ‘Amnesty’ and Should Be Celebrated

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses President Joe Biden's executive order that provides a pathway to gaining legal status for many spouses and children of U.S. citizens, which has been criticized by conservatives as "amnesty." The article explains that the order is not amnesty, but rather a parole-in-place (PIP) measure that opens a pathway for qualified spouses to apply for permanent residency without leaving the country. The article also discusses the reactions from various lawmakers, both Democrats and Republicans, to the executive order.

🙋 Q&A

[01] Overview of the Executive Order

1. What is the key purpose of President Biden's executive order?

• The executive order provides a pathway for certain noncitizen spouses and children of U.S. citizens to apply for lawful permanent residence (green card) without having to leave the country, which could potentially lead to a decade of family separation.
• The order is a parole-in-place (PIP) measure that allows qualified individuals to stay in the U.S. for a limited time and apply for permanent residency.
• The White House estimates this will help approximately 500,000 adults and 50,000 children.

2. How does this executive order differ from "amnesty"?

• The order is not amnesty, as the individuals who will benefit are already eligible for a green card under the current system.
• The order simply removes a barrier that could lead to a prolonged period of family separation, which many choose not to risk and thus are unable to take advantage of their eligibility.
• A green card is not the same as citizenship, and immigrants must be lawful permanent residents for at least five years before qualifying for citizenship.

3. What other provisions are included in the executive order?

• The order also allows some noncitizens, including DACA recipients, to receive work visas more quickly if they have earned a degree at an accredited U.S. college and have received a job offer from a U.S. employer in a field related to their degree.

[02] Reactions to the Executive Order

1. How have Democrats responded to the executive order?

• Many Democratic lawmakers, such as Reps. Joaquin Castro, Greg Casar, Pramila Jayapal, and Yvette D. Clarke, have celebrated the executive order as a compassionate step forward that will provide stability and relief to mixed-status families.

2. How have Republicans responded to the executive order?

• Republicans, such as Reps. Rob Wittman, French Hill, Randy Weber, and Jim Jordan, have criticized the order, calling it an "abuse of power" and "amnesty" that will incentivize illegal immigration and put Americans at risk.
• The article notes that the Republican rhetoric is often hyperbolic and focused on the southern border, where they assume Mexicans are crossing, rather than addressing the actual content of the order.

3. What is the perspective of the article's author on the Republican response?

• The author argues that the Republican criticism is fueled by the "hype that is solely focused on the southern border where people assume Mexicans are crossing" and the idea that "Latinos are all the same: not white."
• The author also notes that the Republicans are "beholden to Trump" and see his "bigotry as the future of the party."