President Joe Biden plans significant immigration changes as U.S. elections approach. He proposes citizenship for certain undocumented immigrants married to U.S. citizens.
Pennsylvania-based lawyer Bridget Cambria sees this as a breakthrough. Over the years, she has seen many affected families struggle with the residency process. “It was nice to tell them something happy for once,” Cambria shared.
This reform could allow hundreds of thousands to legalize their status without leaving the U.S. It’s a key move in an election year, as Biden faces criticism over high illegal immigration levels at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Despite attacks from Donald Trump, his Republican challenger, Biden maintains a balanced approach. He has toughened border policies while aiming to retain liberal and Latino voters.
Trump claims that immigrants increase violent crime rates, a statement unsupported by statistics. In contrast, Biden won the 2020 election promising a humane immigration policy.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll shows Trump leading Biden on immigration policy by 17 percentage points.
Among those impacted is Carmen Miranda from Reading, Pennsylvania. Married to Francisco Cortez, who entered the U.S. illegally, she relies on him due to her health conditions. “We waited so long,” Miranda said, expressing relief over the policy change.
Genaro Vicencio, another beneficiary, entered the U.S. as a child. He fears separation from his family due to immigration issues. “This is a huge stress reliever,” he said, hopeful for a stable future in the U.S. Vicencio also plans to expand his business with the new legal status.
The policy marks a significant shift as Biden navigates complex political waters ahead of the upcoming elections.
