Understanding the Citizenship Act of 2021, Explained by Our Immigration Lawyer in Philadelphia, PA
Immigration in the United States is a particularly charged topic. It causes a lot of concern for individuals and their families who are in the United States legally, illegally, or who intend to immigrate to live or work here. Not only has this been a politically charged topic, but our immigration lawyers in Philadelphia, PA at the MC Law Group, LLC also know that it is a rapidly changing area of law. One such rapid development is the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021.
If you have questions about what the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 means for you and your family, ask our experienced immigration attorneys at the MC Law Group, LLC. Just call our office to schedule your FREE consultation to learn how we can help you prepare for and react to the changes this sweeping overhaul is bringing. Our compassionate and skilled team can handle immigration issues for you and your family, including visa petitions, employment authorizations, labor certifications, religious immigrant and non-immigrant visa petitions, J-1 waivers, extensions to stay, asylum, defend deportation/removal proceedings, and handle citizenship and naturalization. Learn how we can help you by calling (215) 496-0690.
What is the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021
As one of his first official actions, President Joseph Biden sent the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 to Congress to confirm his campaign commitment to modernizing the immigration system in the United States. About a month later, Senator Bob Menendez and Congresswoman Linda Sanchez introduced the bill to the Senate and House.
According to the Act, it would:
- Create an earned roadmap to citizenship for undocumented individuals by allowing undocumented individuals to apply for temporary legal status and the ability to apply for green cards after five years, passing criminal checks, national security checks, and duly paying all taxes.
- Keep families together by clearing backlogs, recapturing unused visas, eliminating long wait times, and increasing per-country visa caps.
- Embrace diversity by containing a NO BAN Act that prohibits discrimination based on religion and employing other partnerships to eliminate discrimination facing LGBTQ+ families. The Act also strictly limits future presidential authority to issue future bans and limitations.
- Promote immigration and refugee integration and citizenship by providing new funding to state and local governments, educational institutions, private organizations, and community-based organizations or not-for-profit organizations. This funding is earmarked to help expand the current offering of programs to promote integration, inclusion, and increase English-language proficiency (a requirement for naturalization).
- Grow the United States economy by clearing visa backlogs and eliminating per-country visa caps, allowing more individuals to come to the United States to work, attend school, and apply for employment to help spur the economy and generate taxes by offering higher wages for both immigrant and non-immigrant workers.
- Protect workers from exploitation and improve employment verification processes by requiring the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Labor to establish a commission involving labor, employer, and civil rights organizations to make recommendations for helping with the employment verification process. This will also hold employers liable for labor violations and abuses.
- Improve immigration courts and protect vulnerable individuals by expanding family case management programs, reducing immigration court backlogs, better training for immigration judges and staff, and improving technology for courts.
- Support asylum seekers and other vulnerable populations immigrating to the US by eliminating the one-year deadline for filing an asylum claim, provide funding for asylum application backlogs, and increase protections for certain visa applicants.
Do You Have Questions Regarding the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021? Do You Want to Use Some of These New Options to Help You and Your Family? Call Us Today
The U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 is still pending, and is expected to bounce back and forth while Senators, Congressmen, and Congresswomen work on the nuances of the Act. But that does not mean that individuals who are in the United States lawfully or unlawfully cannot prepare for the Act’s adoption.
Learn how our experienced immigration lawyers at MC Law Group, LLC in Philadelphia, PA, can help handle your immigration, visa, and other legal needs during a FREE telephone call by dialing (215) 496-0690 or using our contact us box available here to send us a secure message. All calls and messages are private and confidential. We understand you may have concerns, and we can help protect you and your loved ones while you submit your applications.