Quick Hit:

President Joe Biden announces new protections for undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens and "Dreamers," along with a border plan that could permit up to 1.75 million new arrivals annually, despite recent job losses for native-born Americans.

Key Details:

• Biden to announce protections for undocumented spouses and streamline work visas for some "Dreamers."

• New border plan claims to shut down the US-Mexico border after 2,500 daily crossings for seven consecutive days.

• Despite the plan, exceptions and other programs may permit up to 1.75 million new arrivals each year.

• Recent job numbers show 663,000 native-born Americans lost their jobs while 414,000 foreign-born workers entered the workforce in May.

Diving Deeper:

President Joe Biden will announce new protections for undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens and "Dreamers" on Tuesday, signaling a major change in immigration policy. According to three sources briefed by the White House, this executive action aims to shield undocumented spouses from deportation, provide them with work authorization, and ease their path to permanent residency. The announcement coincides with the 12th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, established under former President Barack Obama.

Undocumented spouses who have been in the U.S. continuously for at least ten years and are legally married as of June 17 will qualify for these benefits, provided they meet additional eligibility criteria. These spouses will have approximately three years to apply for permanent residency, during which they will be allowed to stay in the U.S. and will receive a three-year work permit.

This action is expected to also offer protections to certain undocumented children under 21 whose undocumented parent married a U.S. citizen. Furthermore, it aims to facilitate work visa access for "Dreamers" who have earned a degree from a U.S. college or university and secured a high-skilled job offer.

The executive action could impact an estimated 500,000 undocumented spouses and between 50,000 to 100,000 "Dreamers." This move comes amid increasing criticism of Biden's immigration policies, particularly regarding their impact on American job seekers. Recent economic data reveals that all net job growth over the past year has gone to foreign-born workers, including illegal aliens, while native-born Americans have experienced a net job loss of 300,000.

The latest Employment Situation Report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics paints a grim picture. In May 2024, 663,000 native-born Americans lost their jobs, while 414,000 foreign-born workers entered the workforce. This follows April's report showing foreign-born workers increased from 30,482,000 to 30,896,000, while native-born workers decreased from 131,108,000 to 130,445,000.

CNBC's Steve Liesman commented on Friday, "There's an immigration piece of this, there are bodies available and there is work for them to do. Whether or not they're here legally or not is a different story."

In addition to these protections, the Biden administration announced a new border plan aimed at controlling immigration levels. The executive order, effective immediately, will purportedly shut down the US-Mexico border once crossings hit 2,500 per day between points of entry for seven consecutive days. However, this “crackdown” still permits 1.75 million new arrivals into America annually if enforced properly.

The order will lift border restrictions two weeks after the number of crossings averages 1,500 for seven days straight. Exceptions will allow migrants who use the CBP One mobile application at a port of entry, as well as lawful permanent residents, unaccompanied children, trafficking victims, those facing acute medical emergencies, and others with valid visas.

Despite these measures, the number of crossings could still reach historic highs. For instance, if migration is limited to 2,500 per day for a full year, the number would hit 912,500. Additionally, hundreds of thousands more migrants have been allowed into the US using the CBP One app, with CBS News reporting that 450,000 migrants gained admission in the 13 months since the program's January 2023 launch. Biden has also brought in roughly 400,000 more migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela through a mass parole scheme.

This announcement follows the arrest of Victor Martinez-Hernandez, an illegal migrant from El Salvador, for the murder of Rachel Morin, a Maryland mother of five. Martinez-Hernandez had previously crossed into the U.S. illegally in February 2023 and committed a series of violent crimes, highlighting ongoing concerns over border security and the safety of American citizens.

Harford County Sheriff Jeffery Gahler emphasized the connection between failed immigration policies and the safety of American citizens, stating that Martinez-Hernandez should never have been allowed into the country. The arrest has fueled further debate over the Biden administration's handling of immigration and its implications for public safety and job security.

As Biden prepares to announce these new protections and the border plan, the broader implications for American workers and the ongoing immigration crisis remain a focal point of contention.