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Biden resumes program that allows Central American children to migrate legally

By decision of the Biden administration, new applications will begin to be accepted for an Obama-era immigration policy, in which parents currently residing in the United States can bring their children from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador to the U.S. 

On Tuesday, September 21 of this year, applications will begin to be accepted again, marking the final phase of the reactivation of this Central American Minors (CAM) initiative by the Biden administration. 

The resumption of the program is hailed as a very positive, safe, and legal step to reduce the often dangerous journeys migrant children undertake to reach the southern border. According to U.S. officials, tens of thousands of parents residing in the United States will be able to benefit from the program. 

During the first phase of reopening, the Trump administration in 2017 closed approximately 3,000 pending cases. During the current reopening, nearly 1,400 cases have been reopened. However, no children have yet been brought to the United States, authorities added. 

In June of this year, the Biden administration expanded eligibility for the CAM program, thus allowing parents petitioning for their children to apply, even if they have pending applications for political asylum, U visas (which are reserved for victims of serious crimes), Temporary Protected Status (TPS) beneficiaries, among other people with temporary legal status in the United States.  

The awarding process for this program should take between 12 and 14 months, administration officials said. The program aims to help children fleeing violence in Central America who have family members in the U.S. 

The Departments of State and Homeland Security stated in a press release: «We are firmly committed to welcoming people to the United States with humanity and respect, and reuniting families… We are fulfilling our promise to promote safe, orderly, and humane migration from Central America through this expansion of legal pathways to seek humanitarian protection in the United States.».

This news story was created from CBS News: https://cbsn.ws/3tSUkvd

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More than 10 million U.S. citizens live with an undocumented immigrant.

In the United States, there are more than 10 million undocumented immigrants, according to a Census Bureau study conducted by the immigration advocacy group FWD.us. Of these 10 million, 4.9 million are children with at least one undocumented parent. 

Mixed-status households comprise approximately 22 million people who live in and are part of American society despite being undocumented immigrants. These figures include U.S. households that house U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents, or holders of temporary visas, and at least one undocumented individual. 

This study comes as immigrant advocates begin to pressure Democrats in Congress to fight to include immigration provisions in the upcoming $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill. 

Advocates expect up to 8 million people to be covered by the bill, gaining access to permanent legal residency, which could become a path to U.S. citizenship. This is because currently, undocumented immigrants and beneficiaries of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program are not allowed to apply for any type of legal status. 

According to a report by FWD.us, of the 2.4 million U.S. citizens living with undocumented immigrants in California, 1.2 million are children, meaning that up to 1.2 million eligible voters live in mixed-status households. In Texas, up to 1.5 million eligible voters live in mixed-status households, as do more than 140,000 in Arizona and 120,000 in Georgia.

«Fixing our broken immigration system is personal for millions of Americans living in mixed-status families. As citizens and voters, they expect Congress to give their families a long-awaited chance at justice, certainty, and a better future in the country they call home,« Connor added.