In a welcome news for thousands of Indians in the United States aiming for citizenship, Democrat Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez has introduced the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2023 before the House of Representatives on immigration reforms in the US. The bill comes after the expiry of Title-42 order on immigrants’ restriction to enter into the US territory.
The new legislation seeks a series of measures including elimination of per-country green cards caps, work authorization of H-1B holders’ dependents and preventing children of H-1B holders from aging out of the system and being forcefully deported.
The legislation aims to equip the country to responsibly manage the border with smart and effective investments, address the root causes of migration that force people to leave Central America, and restore the United States’ commitment to human rights, according to a press note. It will be a step towards addressing the range of issues of immigrants face and prioritize family reunification and keeping families together and bolster the country’s long-term economic growth.
Commenting on the significance of the bill, Sánchez said ,“As the daughter of immigrant parents from Mexico, I am honored to introduce the U.S. Citizenship Act—a bold, transformative framework that will help fix our broken immigration system.The U.S. Citizenship Act will help us grow our economy, make our borders safer and more secure, and deliver a pathway to citizenship for millions of immigrants already living and working here.”
The U.S. Citizenship Act 2023 establishes an earned road-map to citizenship for all 11 million undocumented immigrants; reforms for the family-based immigration system to keep families together;progress towards country’s economic development; protection for workers from exploitation and improves the employment verification process and supports asylum seekers and other vulnerable populations. .
In addition to Congresswoman Sánchez, the legislation is cosponsored by 100 members of the House of Representatives, including Indian Americans Pramila Jayapal and Shri Thanedar.
