The Biden Administration released details on Tuesday of President Joe Biden’s new executive action aimed at granting permanent residence to certain non-citizens without the need for congressional approval. This move has been met with sharp criticism from House Speaker Mike Johnson, who believes it will lead to increased illegal immigration.
“Just two weeks ago, the president pretended to crack down on the open-border catastrophe by engaging in an election-year border charade. Now he’s trying to play both sides and is granting amnesty to hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens,” said Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana. He argues that Biden’s plan undermines homeland security and uses it as a political tool. “The president may think our homeland security is some kind of game that he can try to use for political points, but Americans know this amnesty plan will only incentivize more illegal immigration and endanger Americans,” Johnson stated.
The executive action, detailed on the White House website, introduces a process for certain noncitizen spouses and children to apply for lawful permanent residence without leaving the U.S. According to a White House fact sheet, this measure aims to protect about 500,000 spouses of U.S. citizens and around 50,000 noncitizen children under 21 whose parent is married to a U.S. citizen.
Johnson further accused the Biden administration of using this policy to turn illegal aliens into voters, claiming it violates the Immigration and Naturalization Act. He expects the executive action to face legal challenges and predicts it will be struck down in court. “This action is proof-positive of the Democrats’ plan to turn illegal aliens into voters,” Johnson said.
This announcement follows Biden’s recent measures to address border security, which Johnson has dismissed as a mere political maneuver. The House Speaker’s criticism underscores the ongoing debate over immigration policy and the executive branch’s role in shaping it without congressional input.
As the political and legal battles over Biden’s executive action unfold, its impact on immigration policy and homeland security will be closely scrutinized. The opposition from conservative lawmakers highlights the contentious nature of this issue and the stark divide over how best to manage immigration in the United States.
