Joe Biden, the President of the United States is the head of the Executive Branch of the federal government, but today announced his plan to overturn the legislative branch, ordering them to remove the words “Illegal Alien” from their laws, existing, pending and future. Biden sent an immigration bill to Congress on Thursday seeking to drop the phrase from the books. The new word for illegal aliens will be “noncitizen”.
“This bill further recognizes America as a nation of immigrants by changing the word “alien” to “noncitizen” in our immigration laws,” Biden said about the bill.
According to Biden, the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 establishes a new system to responsibly manage and secure our border, keep our families and communities safe, and better manage migration across the Hemisphere.
The bill provides new funding to state and local governments, private organizations, educational institutions, community-based organizations, and not-for-profit organizations to expand programs to promote integration and inclusion, increase English-language instruction, and provide assistance to individuals seeking to become citizens.
The bill allows undocumented individuals to apply for temporary legal status, with the ability to apply for green cards after five years if they pass criminal and national security background checks and pay their taxes. Dreamers, TPS holders, and immigrant farmworkers who meet specific requirements are eligible for green cards immediately under the legislation
After three years, all green card holders who pass additional background checks and demonstrate knowledge of English and U.S. civics can apply to become citizens. Applicants must be physically present in the United States on or before January 1, 2021. The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may waive the presence requirement for those deported on or after January 20, 2017 who were physically present for at least three years prior to removal for family unity and other humanitarian purposes.