As the US Presidential election looms, immigration policy is expected to be a major focus for President Joe Biden. During the USISPF Summit in Washington DC, Neera Tanden, the President’s domestic policy advisor, highlighted America’s attraction to talented immigrants from around the world and the potential loss of innovation that the country experiences as a result of inconsistent policies.
While Tanden did not provide further details on specific executive orders, it is believed that an order may be passed to protect undocumented spouses of American citizens. This move would impact an estimated 500,000 undocumented immigrants and is seen as a strategic effort to appeal to Latino voters. The announcement comes after previous initiatives such as the Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program under President Obama, which provided relief from deportation to half a million individuals who were brought to the US as children.
According to the Pew Research Center, in 2021 Indians represent the third-largest group of undocumented immigrants in the US after those from Mexico and El Salvador. The number of undocumented immigrants from India, Guatemala, and Honduras has been on the rise since 2017, highlighting the complexity and diversity of the immigrant population in the US.
As voters prepare for this crucial election, immigration policy remains a key issue that will have a significant impact on their decisions and shape future outcomes for America’s immigrant population.
