A significant number of immigration advocates are pressing President Joe Biden to authorize work permits for undocumented immigrants who have been residing in the United States for extended periods. They argue that this move would offer these individuals legal employment prospects and help ease labor shortages.
Authorizing Work Permits for Undocumented Immigrants
Although the president has the authority to authorize this action through an executive order, the White House has not affirmed any intentions to proceed. A spokesperson for the Administration informed VOA via email that they are dedicated to ensuring swift relief for eligible individuals and crafting a more equitable and humane immigration system, adding that the Administration regularly assesses potential policy avenues.
The Administration has shown reluctance to provide legal employment opportunities for the approximately 11 million immigrants who do not fit into existing immigration categories. The Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas informed reporters in April that the Administration has not overlooked the domestic calls, highlighting the presence of undocumented individuals in the United States who have been without work authorization for many years.
Undocumented Immigrants Seeking Asylum
Long-term undocumented immigrants often face a complex or non-existent process to obtain a work permit legally, whereas the situation differs for new arrivals.
Thousands of migrants arriving monthly at the US border actively seek out the nearest uniformed agent to surrender and begin the formal process of seeking asylum. Once their claims are under review, they will be able to apply for an Employment Authorization Document, commonly referred to as a work permit.
A Collaborative Push for Workers Permit
A coalition of numerous migrant advocacy groups called Here to Work has urged President Biden to permit an estimated 11 million long-term undocumented immigrants residing in the US to apply for work permits.
Rebecca Shi, the executive director of the American Business Immigration Coalition, emphasized that providing work permits to undocumented workers would offer them access to better employment opportunities, higher wages, and the ability to contribute more taxes. According to Shi, work permits signify stability for the workforce, enabling employers of all sizes to expand, hire more workers, and provide training. This economic boost is essential for keeping inflation in check and benefiting everyone in the economy.
Available Options for Undocumented Workers
Undocumented workers have the option to start businesses and utilize the Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) for tax-related matters, but according to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), this does not grant authorization to work in the US or eligibility for Social Security benefits.
The Biden administration has also considered implementing a "parole in place" program for spouses of US citizens. This program entails a temporary immigration status that provides access to work permits and safeguards against deportation. Approximately 1.1 million individuals who are married to US citizens are believed to lack a legal pathway to obtaining a green card or citizenship.
As per Republican US Senator Roger Wicker, the primary action to halt unauthorized immigration is to secure US borders and express opposition to policies that permit illegal immigrants to compete for jobs against American citizens on his website.
America's Labor Shortage
According to Stephanie Ferguson, director of global employment policy at the US Chamber of Commerce, only 6.5 million workers were unemployed out of 9.5 million job openings in the US, with a ratio of 73 workers for every 100 open jobs, highlighting the substantial gap between job openings and available workforce.
Existing Criticisms from Immigration Advocates
The parole-in-place proposal or any potential executive order aimed at granting relief to long-term undocumented immigrants is anticipated to encounter political hurdles in Washington, particularly as Republicans advocate for policies to reduce migrant arrivals at the US-Mexico border. However, despite ongoing discussions and proposals, Congress has not yet approved any reforms to existing US immigration law.
In recent months, the White House has explored alternative measures, including the possibility of issuing an executive order to limit the entry of migrants into the US at the border with Mexico if daily crossings exceed a certain threshold. Nevertheless, this concept has faced criticism from immigration advocates.
