BIDEN ADMINISTRATION PLANS LEGISLATIVE LAUNCH SHORTLY — Goal Is “Progress” 

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/biden-hill-democrats-plan-unveil-immigration-reform-bill-week-n1257960

NBC News reports:

Feb. 15, 2021, 7:40 PM EST

By Geoff Bennett, Julia Ainsley and Jacob Soboroff

The Biden administration and Hill Democrats are expected later this week to release an immigration reform bill, multiple sources familiar with the planning tell NBC News.

The legislative text of the “U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021” will reflect the immigration priorities that President Joe Biden unveiled on his first day in office. His proposal includes an earned pathway to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants, expands the refugee resettlement program and deploys more technology to the Southern border. There are additional protections that are being considered in the legislation, such as asylum processing in home countries for minors, expanded benefits for DREAMers and ending the public charge rule.

While previous attempts at massive immigration reform have failed under both Republican and Democratic administrations, the Biden White House has signaled support for breaking the legislation into pieces.

As a potential secondary path, lawmakers would work to pass bills legalizing farmworkers and Dreamers right away, and then move toward a more expansive overhaul. The main objective, officials and advocates say, is progress.

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Sounds like modest expectations. But, any meaningful immigration legislation would be a major achievement that has eluded the last two Administrations.

Unfortunately, based on the the GOP’s impeachment performance, it’s hard to see 60 votes for any substantive legislation in the Senate. 

PWS

02-17-21

NBC REPORTS THAT ANOTHER NDPA ALL-STAR, 🌟 MICHELLE BRANÉ, WILL BE TAPPED BY BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FOR KEY LEADERSHIP POSITION!

Michelle Brane
Michelle Brane
PHOTO: Women’s Refugee Commission

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/biden-admin-name-refugee-advocate-director-task-force-reunite-separated-n1257255

Feb. 10, 2021, 1:12 PM EST

By Julia Ainsley, Jacob Soboroff and Geoff Bennett

WASHINGTON — The White House is expected to select Michelle Brané of the Women’s Refugee Commission as the executive director of the task force to reunite migrant families separated by the Trump administration, three sources familiar with the decision tell NBC News.

The selection of Brané, director of migrant rights and justice programs at the Women’s Refugee Commission, is welcome news to the immigration advocate community, as most of the task force is made of government officials.

“If selected, Michelle would be a fantastic choice. She would bring deep expertise on the issues and the perfect mixture of passion and common sense,” said Lee Gelernt, deputy director of the ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project.

. . . .

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Read the full article at the link.

Good news indeed!

Michelle was an Attorney Advisor at the BIA during part of my tenure as Chair, before moving on to a distinguished career in the NGO sector.

She is brilliant, tough, practical, humane, a leader, and a true pro who has been getting the job done for refugees and the most vulnerable among us for years. Michelle is just who America needs to bring expertise, organizational skills, and moral as well as intellectual leadership to a Government that has been missing those essential qualities for far, far too long!

Always satisfying to see the “best and brightest” whom I’ve worked with over my career rise to the leadership positions they deserve where they can use their skills to lead America to a better future!

Congrats, Michelle, and Due Process Forever!

PWS

02-15-21