U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono, alongside six fellow senators, has called on President Joe Biden to take action to protect immigrant families before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. The letter was signed by Senators Dick Durbin, Cory Booker, Catherine Cortez Masto, Tammy Duckworth, Ben Ray Luján, and Alex Padilla.
The senators expressed their concerns about the potential impact of the incoming administration on immigrant communities. They wrote to President Biden stating: “Mass deportations would jeopardize the safety and security of millions of mixed-status families, sow deep distrust and fear in the communities we represent, and destabilize the U.S. economy.”
The letter urged President Biden to finalize his administration's policies swiftly. It highlighted several priorities for protecting immigrants, including extending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for eligible countries and expediting processing for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients.
Other recommendations included protecting DACA holders' ability to travel on advance parole and prioritizing pending asylum claims adjudication. The senators also called for finalizing a rule that extends work permits automatically and prioritizes work permit processing.
In conclusion, they affirmed their readiness to support these efforts: “We stand ready to support you in these efforts and are committed to working together to ensure that these priorities are realized.”
Senator Hirono has been actively involved in immigration reform efforts. She recently introduced the Reuniting Families Act aimed at promoting family unity within immigration systems and addressing backlogs.