DACA FIRST ORDER OF BIZ

Biden vows immigration reform if he wins

Democrats have multiple issues on their agenda for 2020, but it appears immigration will be up first should Joe Biden win the presidential election in November.

Biden and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) have publicly pledged to make immigration reform Democrats’ first order of business.

After the Supreme Court blocked the White House from ending the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program last month, Biden committed to sending a bill to Congress “on day one” of his administration making the program permanent.

“The Supreme Court’s ruling today is a victory made possible by the courage and resilience of hundreds of thousands of DACA recipients who bravely stood up and refused to be ignored. As President, I will immediately work to make it permanent by sending a bill to Congress on day one of my Administration,” the former vice president said in a statement at the time.

Schumer, who led the 2013 bipartisan immigration-reform effort in the Senate with Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.), made an emotional prediction while reacting to the high court’s decision.

“I cried tears of joy a few minutes ago when I heard the decision of the Supreme Court on DACA. These wonderful DACA kids and their families have a huge burden lifted off of their shoulders. They don’t have to worry about being deported. They can do their jobs, and I believe . . . someday soon they will be American citizens,” he said.

DACA is a program that covers individuals who have been in the United States since they were children after being brought into the country illegally by their parents.

Asked by The Hill newspaper just before the July 4 Senate recess if immigration would be atop the agenda for Democrats if they won in November, Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin referred to Biden and Schumer’s promises.

“They’ve all said it’s first up,” the Illinois Democrat said.

And Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) told the outlet, “It’s definitely on the agenda,” adding that immigration reform would have great economic benefits.

“Billions more for the economy, Social Security, the wages of all Americans rose. On an economic basis alone, it was a compelling issue,” he said.

Menendez was a member of the bipartisan Gang of Eight with Schumer that negotiated the 2013 Senate immigration bill, which passed with 68 votes. The bill died after it was not considered by the then-Republican-led House.

The New Jersey senator believes that bill could be used as a template for new legislation, given the bipartisan support it had.

“Not too many issues here of such controversy gets [68] votes. A lot in there should be revisited,” he told The Hill.