On Monday, the Biden-Harris Administration laid out a series of initiatives aimed at bolstering opportunities for the Latino community in the United States. Central to these actions, as detailed in a White House press release, are measures to advance educational equity through Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), keep immigrant families together, and enhance access to legal representation and immigration services.
Under the educational initiatives, President Biden will sign an executive order focused on HSIs, which are pivotal in serving over 4.7 million students, providing for nearly two-thirds of Hispanic and Latino college attendees in the U.S. These institutions will receive support aligning their programs with both local and national economic needs, especially in fields like STEM and education. Adding to that, the Administration is helping thousands of Dreamers transition to higher education through a proposed expansion of the federal TRIO program, which supports students from low-income backgrounds in their journey to college.
In an effort to reform the immigration system, President Biden has implemented actions to streamline the naturalization process and defend the DACA policy in court. Today, they announced that starting August 19, 2024, certain noncitizen spouses and children can apply for lawful permanent residence without having to leave the country. Adding to that is the progress in making it easier for Dreamers and other graduates from U.S. institutions to receive work visas.
The government is also growing its “Attorney of the Day” program, an initiative doubling the number of locations where volunteer lawyers provide assistance at initial immigration court hearings. The Department of Justice Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR) is facilitating this growth, branching out the program to cities like Hyattsville, Maryland; New York City; and Atlanta. Furthermore, the Justice Department is committed to improving access to the immigration system, evident by creating a new role focused on innovative ways to increase representation rates for noncitizens in immigration court.
Concurrently, the Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announces "USCIS to You," a community-based initiative that brings immigration-related assistance to local, especially underserved areas. Additionally, USCIS is providing funding to support organizations that assist lawful permanent residents with the naturalization process.
These recent expansions build on the Administration's previous strides to boost the standing of Latino communities, such as reducing Latino unemployment, bolstering Latino-owned businesses, extending healthcare benefits, and increasing financial support for HSIs and their students. Indubitably, such efforts stand as an illustration of the Administration's commitment to ensuring that Latino communities and families are granted a stronger foothold in the pursuit of the American dream.
