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Category: Immigration

UW Publishes 2021 Federal Agenda

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The University of Washington has published our 2021 Federal Agenda outlining our top priorities for the coming year. Our agenda reflects a commitment to service, excellence, and innovation, taking into account the unique challenges of the past year.

We are proud of our longstanding partnership with the federal government and look forward to further collaboration in 2021.

Democrats Introduce Immigration Reform Bill

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Democrats have introduced an immigration bill – The US Citizenship Act- which could provide a pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented people. The bill is being championed by Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA) and Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ). President Biden has already indicated support. Among other things, the bill will:

  • Provide an 8-year pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who arrived in the US by January 1st, 2021 and pass a background check. The first 5 years would be provisional, after which the non-citizen could apply for a green card, and then 3 years later could apply for citizenship.
  • There would be an expedited pathway for farmworkers and persons holding DACA status. No specific timeline was announced.
  • Replace “alien” with “non-citizen” in law.
  • Increase caps on family and employment based green cards. Eliminate the caps for STEM doctoral students.
  • Establish dual-intent for international students with regards to immigration.
  • Prevent states from charging non-resident tuition to refugees, asylum seekers, and other special categories of non-citizens.
  • H-4 visa reform including adding work authorization for spouses and children.
  • Expand transnational anti-drug task forces in Central America and improve technology at the southern border.

The bill is expected to be introduced in the House this week, and in the Senate next week, where it would need 10 Republican Senators to vote in favor. Bill text is available here (Senate) and here (House).

The bill contains numerous, wide-ranging provisions, and our office is still working through the text.

 

Mayorkas, Buttigieg Confirmed

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As expected, Alejandro Mayorkas and Pete Buttigieg were confirmed earlier this afternoon as Secretary of Homeland Security and Transportation, respectively. Mayorkas was approved 56-43 and the vote on Buttigieg’s nomination was 86-13.

Texts of Biden Executive Actions Now Available

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As noted earlier yesterday, President Biden was expected to take a number of executive actions on a host of issues on his first day, including COVID-19, DACA, and student loan repayments, among others.  He did take those executive actions after being sworn in and the  texts of those executive actions are now available.

  • The text of the Presidential Memorandum on “Preserving and Fortifying DACA” is available here.
  • The text of the Presidential Proclamation ending the “Muslim ban” is available here.
  • The text of the Executive Order on a review of regulations that negatively impact the climate issued during the Trump Administration is available here.
  • The text of a memo from the White House Chief of Staff to agency heads halting “midnight regulations” is available here.
  • A statement regarding student loan repayments is available here.  The Education Department has already updated its website to reflect an extension on the repayment pause through September 30.

Texts of other executive actions taken by the new President are available here.

Biden to Release Immigration Bill

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The Biden Administration is scheduled to release later today an expansive bill aimed at reforming the nation’s immigration bill.

Read more about some of the bill’s major provisions here

A fact sheet about the bill is available here.