El Paso, Texas – El Paso County Commissioner David Stout, chairman of the Texas Border Coalition (TBC), today commented on President Biden’s executive action aimed at keeping families together, bolstering the U.S. workforce, and easing the work visa process for graduates of American colleges who have secured job offers, including DACA recipients and other Dreamers.

“The Texas Border Coalition (TBC) commends President Biden for taking a crucial step to offer much-needed relief to undocumented individuals married to U.S. citizens residing in the United States for at least 10 years as well as their children. By granting them safe harbor and legal work authorization, this action represents much-needed progress in improving our immigration system, bolstering the U.S. economy, and keeping families together. Additionally, easing the work visa process for graduates of American universities who have received a job offer is common sense. Those educated in the U.S. must be able to apply their knowledge and skills to contribute to the growth and prosperity of the American economy. Pushing them to work abroad simply harms U.S. competitiveness."

“At the same time, as we mark the 12-year anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), executive action is insufficient to truly reform and improve America’s broken immigration and asylum systems. TBC calls on Congress to promptly pass comprehensive legislation, such as the bipartisan Dignity Act, that provides lasting relief to Dreamers, expands work visas, reforms the asylum system without undermining it, and ensures robust, secure, and fair border management that protects our trade and economic interests.”