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Biden to prioritize legal status for millions of immigrants

Biden will announce legislation his first day in office that provides a path to citizenship for millions of immigrants in the U.S. illegally.
Credit: AP
President-elect Joe Biden speaks during an event at The Queen theater in Wilmington, Del., Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, to announce key administration posts. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

President-elect Joe Biden will announce legislation his first day in office that provides a path to citizenship for millions of immigrants in the United States illegally.

People briefed on the plans note it would be the biggest move toward granting status to people in the country illegally since Ronald Reagan bestowed amnesty on nearly 3 million people in 1986.

Legislative efforts to overhaul immigration policy failed in 2007 and 2013. The scope and timing of the move surprised advocates given how immigration has long divided Democrats and Republicans, even within their own parties, and how the issue got little attention during the campaign. 

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