Advocates hailed Biden’s plan as his “DACA moment” while a legal non-profit group led by a former Trump official vowed to sue the government.
During an announcement at the White House, President Biden unveiled a plan to give permanent residency to illegal immigrants married to American citizens. It could potentially provide a path to citizenship for more than half a million people in the United States illegally.
Advocates for illegal immigrants’ path to citizenship celebrated the announcement, with the director of one group calling it Biden’s “DACA moment”, referring to the Obama-era policy that deferred enforcement of immigration laws for those brought into the United States illegally as minors.
Those in favor of the order believe it will help motivate and mobilize Latino voters in swing states, particularly Pennsylvania. Jossie Flor Sapunar, national communications director for CASA in Action told The Hill “We know that Pennsylvania is going to make or break the election, and we’re here as CASA in Action because we are getting ready for a major electoral voter mobilization program, and the Latino community needs to know that Biden’s promise to keep families together.”
Days before Biden announced his amnesty plan, a Super PAC aligned with Pennsylvania GOP Senate candidate Dave McCormick started running attack ads against McCormick’s rival, incumbent Democratic Sen. Bob Casey. The 30-second ad focused on immigration, tying Casey to Biden and blaming both for millions of illegal immigrants who have entered the United States since Biden took office. Pennsylvania’s GOP candidate for Senate, Dave McCormick, blasted the announcement, saying Biden’s allowed 10 million illegal immigrants into the country and that his rival, incumbent Democratic Sen. Bob Casey is “right there with” Biden on granting “mass amnesty.”
Biden’s larger immigration policy is facing stiff legal resistance from the left and the right. The American Civil Liberties Union sued Biden earlier this month over the executive order that limits asylum when the number of daily illegal border crossings hits a certain number. America First Legal, run by former Trump administration official Stephen Miller, vowed to file a lawsuit preventing its implementation, calling it “one of the largest executive amnesties in American history.”
Some believe Biden’s actions have a political benefit but polling shows Americans are more sympathetic to former President Trump’s views on illegal immigration.
In another poll conducted earlier this month, a majority of Hispanic adults backed a “plan to deport all undocumented immigrants” in the United States. A theoretical deportation plan garnered majority support across several demographics. Trump has continued his calls for the deportation of illegal immigrants.
