A recent report has revealed discontent among certain business owners in response to President Biden’s initiative to issue hundreds of thousands of work permits to undocumented immigrants. The decision, announced last September, aimed to provide work permits and protection from deportations to Venezuelan migrants and Afghan nationals, including those residing in the U.S. without legal status, amidst a significant surge at the southern border.
Sam Sanchez, a restaurant owner in Chicago and a board member of the National Restaurant Association, expressed his dismay over the decision, perceiving it as favoring new arrivals over his longstanding employees. “It’s offensive that my employees and other immigrants are being leapfrogged by new arrivals,” Sanchez conveyed to The New York Times.
Additionally, immigrants who have been contributing to the U.S. workforce for years voiced their discontent, highlighting feelings of being overlooked. “For those of us here a long time trying to do everything right, it’s just not fair that we are forgotten,” remarked Juan, whose immigration status remained undisclosed.
The move has also sparked disagreement among Latino voters, as noted by Eduardo Gamarra, a professor at Florida International University, who conducted polls on Latino voters’ perspectives on immigration. Gamarra emphasized that many Latino voters oppose prioritizing new arrivals over immigrants who have either entered the country legally or have been working in the U.S. for an extended period.
In addition to business owners and voters, pressure has mounted on the Biden administration from sanctuary city leaders and immigration activists, advocating for the extension of work permits to all undocumented individuals in the country. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and New York City Mayor Eric Adams have urged the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to prolong existing work permits for undocumented immigrants, citing potential job losses, economic repercussions for businesses, and challenges in accommodating new asylum seekers.
Mayor Johnson recently called on the Biden administration to grant work permits to nearly 500,000 undocumented migrants, suggesting that Chicago could accommodate hundreds of thousands more individuals. However, such proposals have faced criticism, with the Chicago Sun Times editorial board cautioning against potential repercussions. The board argued that authorizing work permits for millions of undocumented immigrants, including a significant number in Illinois, could exacerbate existing challenges and pose political risks for President Biden.
While acknowledging the need for reform in the immigration system, concerns persist regarding the feasibility and implications of granting extensive work permits to undocumented migrants. As the debate continues, stakeholders advocate for solutions that balance humanitarian considerations with economic and political realities.
