A federal judge has ruled against President Biden’s policy designed to help undocumented spouses of US citizens gain legal status. The decision, a blow to the outgoing administration and an estimated 500,000 people, comes just days after Donald Trump’s electoral victory. The ruling is expected to be upheld by the incoming Trump administration, leaving the future of the program uncertain.
A former economic advisor to President Obama, Betsey Stevenson, has challenged the widespread misconception that undocumented immigrants are easily obtaining mortgages in the United States. She highlights the irony of former Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke struggling to secure a mortgage due to income documentation challenges, emphasizing that undocumented immigrants are not readily accessing home loans.
California is on the verge of passing a bill that would provide state-supported home loans of up to $150,000 to undocumented immigrants. The bill, Assembly Bill 1840, aims to expand the California Dream for All program by removing immigration status as a barrier to homeownership. The bill has sparked intense debate, with supporters arguing for equal opportunities and critics raising concerns about affordability and potential economic repercussions.
Rep. Kat Cammack argues that President Biden’s anticipated executive order on immigration will exacerbate the border crisis by granting privileges to undocumented immigrants while ignoring the urgent need to secure the border. She calls for a focus on closing the border, deporting criminals and extremists, and addressing the issue of regularization through a legal process that prioritizes American citizens.
Over 80 Democratic lawmakers have appealed to President Biden to expedite pathways to legal status for undocumented immigrants, expressing concern that a potential Trump administration could deport millions. They argue that streamlining processes for DACA recipients, spouses of Americans, and others would provide stability for families and contribute to the economy. However, the White House is yet to respond to the request.
Claudia Perez, a Mexican immigrant living in Chicago for the past 25 years, has always yearned for her homeland and the loved ones she left behind. Despite a successful street vending business in Little Village, she chose to leave her life in the U.S. due to health concerns and a desire to spend her remaining years with her aging siblings and visit her parents’ graves in Mexico. Her decision illustrates the dilemma faced by many undocumented immigrants who, after years of living in the United States, choose to return to their countries of origin to be with family and prepare for their own mortality. While her family in Chicago remained, Perez’s return was a bittersweet moment filled with both joy and sorrow.
Republican-controlled states are expanding local police authority and imposing criminal penalties on undocumented immigrants as the issue of border crossings takes center stage in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election. Oklahoma’s recently passed law criminalizes unauthorized presence in the state, with potential prison sentences of up to two years. Other states, including Texas, Tennessee, Iowa, and Louisiana, are considering or have implemented similar measures. These efforts draw criticism from immigration advocates, who assert that immigration is a federal matter and that state laws will face legal challenges.
House Bill 4156, passed by the Oklahoma Legislature, aims to create the crime of “impermissible occupation” and impose penalties on illegal immigrants. The bill has sparked controversy, with a Mexican diplomat expressing concerns that it encourages fear and fails to address the underlying economic needs of the state. The bill awaits Governor Kevin Stitt’s signature to become law.
