Albany, NY – In response to President Joe Biden’s announcement to protect undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens, Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, Chair of the New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus, released the following statement:

“President Biden’s decision to create protections for undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens is greatly welcome. This Executive Order provides much-needed relief for both citizens and undocumented immigrants across the country, creating a path for them to eventually become permanent residents of the United States.

This is a strong measure that will benefit many, but our immigration policies are under significant strain, and there is much more work to do to create a robust and responsive framework. While we advocate for these changes, we must unfortunately rely on executive actions and the whims of the judiciary. This is one of the quintessential issues we face, and the continued inaction by Congress remains untenable. We must apply pressure and remind our federal leaders that the majority of the nation wants comprehensive immigration reform. Thank you to the President for leading on this critical front.”