In a united effort to address the record crossings along the southern border, over 80 Democratic lawmakers and immigration advocates have signed a letter urging President Joe Biden to prioritize long-term undocumented immigrants and streamline pathways to lawful status. The letter comes as the Biden administration considers executive actions on immigration and highlights the importance of providing relief for undocumented individuals who have contributed to the fabric of American society.

The letter specifically calls for the White House to take several concrete steps to address the issue. It suggests streamlining the process for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients to change their status to nonimmigrant, thereby providing them with a pathway to lawful residence. Additionally, lawmakers urge Biden to allow undocumented migrants married to U.S. citizens to seek parole on a case-by-case basis, thus helping to unify families that have been impacted by immigration regulations.

Furthermore, the letter emphasizes the need to reduce processing times for green card cases, enabling eligible undocumented migrants to work legally. Democrats and advocates argue that deporting all undocumented individuals, as previously threatened by former President Donald Trump, would have detrimental effects on the American economy and tear apart families.

Representative Nanette Barragan, the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, highlighted the importance of President Biden using his executive authority to rebuild the broken immigration system. Barragan urges the Biden administration to provide pathways to citizenship and protections for the millions of long-term undocumented residents who have played a significant role in the United States.

This recent push aligns with a previous letter sent by Senate Democrats in March, encouraging Biden to take action. Senator Alex Padilla from California stated that reverting to failed Trump-era policies is not the solution, emphasizing the importance of a legal pathway to citizenship for undocumented individuals.

Reports suggest that the Biden administration has been in contact with immigration advocacy groups ahead of potential executive orders relating to immigration. It is likely that the White House will invoke Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, granting the president discretion over who can be admitted into the U.S. This authority would give Customs and Border Protection the ability to block the entry of migrants crossing over from Mexico if daily border crossings surpass a specific threshold.

Some advocates and Democrats have expressed concerns that this policy might be overly restrictive on asylum. Nonetheless, Senator Padilla sees this as an opportunity for President Biden to provide relief to long-term immigrants in the nation.

The Biden administration is yet to announce any specific actions related to immigration but is under increasing pressure to address the issue promptly. Advocacy groups, lawmakers, and various immigration organizations are actively shining a spotlight on the letter and urging President Biden to act swiftly to protect American families.

Todd Schulte, the president of FWD.us, an immigration advocacy group, expressed hope that President Biden will utilize his legal authority to provide relief for the spouses of U.S. citizens and other long-term undocumented community members. Schulte believes that President Biden has the opportunity to improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of American families through affirmative action.

As the discussions continue, the fate of undocumented immigrants and potential pathways to citizenship hangs in the balance.