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The Biden administration is looking to waive fees related to immigration for up to 70,000 Afghan evacuees while they are resettled in the United States, the Department of Homeland Security said. Afghans need work permits to legally work in the country, but the filing fee for work permit applications is $410. Fees for acquiring lawful permanent residence status can reach $1,225. “By providing these evacuees with access to streamlined processing and fee exemptions, we will open doors of opportunity for our Afghan allies and help them begin to rebuild their lives in communities across our country more quickly,” DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement. CNN
In other federal immigration news…
Explainer: Biden Looking to Re-create DACA Through Federal Rule
In late September, the Department of Homeland Security issued a proposal for a rule that would put into action a deferred deportation program similar to DACA, opening a 60-day period for comments from the public. The proposal would make it optional for DACA applicants to seek a work permit, instead of making the permit application part of the DACA process. The Los Angeles Times looks at what elements of the current DACA program would be included in the proposed rule, what would change, and how the public can get involved. The Los Angeles Times
What California’s First Latino U.S. Senator is Fighting For
Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) has become an important voice on immigration in the Senate, where he represents a state where Latinos are the largest ethnic group. He is California’s first Latino U.S. Senator, and became chair of the immigration subcommittee upon his arrival — making him the first Latino to lead the subcommittee. McClatchy’s DC Bureau looks at the immigration reforms Padilla has pushed since he joined the Senate, especially pathways to citizenship, and looks back at the personal and professional moments that have brought him to his current position. McClatchy DC
