Citizenship Act 2023: The end of country quota from Green Cards
Introduced by the ruling Democratic party in the US, The Citizenship Act 2023 enables the elimination of the country quota for green cards and makes changes in the much sought-after H-1B visa system. The US Citizenship Act includes three key pillars: responsible and effective border management, economic growth and strengthened labor force, and family reunification.
The act, introduced by Congresswoman Linda Sanchez creates an earned roadmap to citizenship for all 11 million undocumented immigrants, providing Dreamers, TPS holders, and some farmworkers with an immediate path to citizenship.
The bill permits people who have spent years and in some cases decades, in the US to stay connected to their family legally and obtain the security and stability of US citizenship. The bill also creates a path to citizenship for undocumented noncitizens by giving them the opportunity to apply for temporary legal status (also known as “Lawful Prospective Immigrant Status”) with the chance to apply for lawful permanent residence (also known as a “green card”) after five years if they pass criminal and national security background checks and pay taxes.
Dreamers, recipients of Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and agricultural workers who meet certain requirements will be immediately eligible for green cards. Eligible spouses and children are also included.
Moreover, by allowing citizens and legal permanent residents in binational same-sex relationships to sponsor their permanent partners for immigration to the United States and to qualify as qualifying relatives for other immigration benefits and purposes, the bill redefines the term “spouse” to include permanent partners and ends discrimination against LGBTQ+ families.
The law also gives children with at least one citizen parent, regardless of their biological connection, automatic citizenship. Protects orphans, widows, and children, and provides equal treatment to stepchildren.
Moreover, the bill broadens existing protections to ensure that an immigrant’s determination of eligibility for a benefit is not hindered by the death of a sponsor, prevents children of U.S. citizens’ fiancés from ageing out of the visa and green card application processes, and accords stepchildren the same treatment in order to qualify as “immediate relatives” as long as they were younger than 21 at the time of their parents’ marriage.
“As the daughter of immigrant parents from Mexico, I am honoured to introduce the US Citizenship Act — a bold, transformative framework that will help fix our broken immigration system,” said Congresswoman Sanchez.
“The US 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,” she said.
