Tensions are rising in the complex web of immigration as newcomers and immigrants with extended ties to the country become entangled in a fight for desired work permits. This changing environment highlights the various experiences and difficulties encountered by different immigrant demographic groups and the intricacies of the immigration system.

Diverse Perspectives Within the Immigrant Spectrum

The contrast between "newcomers" and "immigrants with deeper U.S. roots" highlights the diverse immigrant community. Recent arrivals, or "newcomers," may encounter difficulties navigating the intricate process of obtaining work permits. Conversely, immigrants with more established roots and extended stay in the nation face different challenges, reflecting how immigration laws have changed.

The Competitive Struggle for Work Permits

Immigrants in a city-run shelter in New York complain that family members who moved in before them won't give them a bed. A Chicago-based organization that provided mental health services to illegal immigrants also catered to those who were sleeping at the police station across the street. Some immigrants in South Florida claim that those who arrive later are granted work permits that are inaccessible to them. Mayors, governors, and others have been vocal supporters of recently come migrants seeking work permits and shelter nationwide. Tensions have emerged between immigrants who have been in the country for years or even decades but do not have the same benefits, notably work permits-as a result of their efforts and the laws currently in place. Furthermore, some recent arrivals believe long-time immigrants have treated them poorly.

In Washington this month, thousands of immigrants marched, urging President Joe Biden to extend work authorization to long-time residents. Their signs read, "Work permits for all!" and "I have been waiting 34 years for a permit."

Despite a brief slowdown due to new asylum restrictions in May, illegal border crossings from Mexico exceeded 2 million for the second consecutive year, ending on September 30. Additionally, hundreds of thousands of migrants were legally admitted to the country in the past year through new policies aimed at discouraging illegal crossings.

U.S. Rep. Jesús "Chuy" García, a Chicago Democrat representing a predominantly Latino district with a sizable immigrant population, acknowledged the challenges posed by the growing wave of arrivals. He noted that the arrival of new immigrants has sparked tensions and raised questions, especially among those waiting for decades to obtain a green card and pursue a pathway to citizenship.

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While 80% of asylum seekers complete their processing in 1.5 months, there is a six-month waiting period for work authorization, according to U.S. Services for Citizenship and Immigration. There is no waiting period for those who use the new legal routes created by the Biden administration. While 324,000 people used a mobile app for land crossings with Mexico, 270,000 people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela applied online with a sponsor for a temporary legal status known as parole. In September, the administration promised to shorten the 30-day waiting period for work permits for individuals utilizing the new routes. 

Prominent city mayors request $5 billion, while the White House only asks for $1.4 billion in services for recent immigrants. They emphasize the need for work permits for longer-term residents and support temporary status for newcomers.

Many recent arrivals live in terrible conditions, and some have trouble joining family. Financial strains have had an impact on immigrant services organizations, such as Chicago's Latino Treatment Center, which has adapted to support recently arrived immigrants with special needs.

Economic Impact

Diego Torres of the Latin American Coalition in Charlotte, North Carolina, indicated that they are working towards maintaining a balance between assisting individuals who have been in the community for an extended period and those who are newly arriving. He conveyed that, to date, they have been able to serve everyone successfully. 

Pursuing work permits for immigrants with more established U.S. roots is intertwined with general inquiries about identity and integration. In addition to legal obstacles, they face social barriers that limit their ability to fully engage in the nation's economic and social life. The economic impact is profound, influencing not only people's daily lives but also the direction of the economy as a whole.

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