Leaders visit Woodburn to salute Biden's executive action

Many local and regional leaders visited Woodburn Tuesday to formally praise President Joe Biden’s announcement that he is taking executive action to protect the undocumented spouses of American citizens.

Biden’s move will help facilitate those spouses in obtaining work permits and negotiating a pathway to permanent residency, ultimately leading to citizenship.

The action is anticipated to affect an estimated 500,000 people nationwide and 8,000 living in Oregon.

“My dad used to have an expression: he said ‘Joey, family is about the beginning, middle and the end; about keeping couples together who are married,’” Biden shared Tuesday during a White House press conference. “Where one spouse is a U.S. citizen and the other is undocumented, and they have been living in the United States for at least 10 years. These couples have been raising families, sending their kids to church and to school – paying taxes and contributing to our country for 10 years or more. As a matter of fact, the average amount of time they have spent here is 23 years.

“But (they’re) living in the United States all this time with fear and uncertainty,” he continued. “We can fix that. And that’s what I’m going to do today.”

The president’s conviction drew applause from those on hand at the White House ceremony. It was equally well received in Woodburn.

The president said the means is already in place, but it’s cumbersome, often forcing an undocumented spouse to return to their former country before successfully qualifying.

The president’s statement coincides with the 12th anniversary of the establishment of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which former President Barak Obama announced on June 15, 2012.

“Today marks the most significant win for our immigrant communities since the DACA program was announced,” U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas at the Woodburn rally held at PCUN. “Think of all the husbands, wives, mothers, fathers and young people who can finally exhale and see a clear future for themselves.”

Many elected representatives and local Latino leaders gathered at PCUN to celebrate the occasion, which they praised but cautioned that it’s one step in a much longer and broader process.

In addition to Congresswoman Salinas, speaking before the sunny, outdoor gathering were Isaura Peña, director of strategy at the Innovation Law Lab; State Sen. Wlnsvey Campos, D-Aloha; State Rep. Ricki Ruiz, D-Gresham; PCUN Executive Director Reyna Lopez.

Many other notable leaders were on hand, including Woodburn School District Superintendent Juan Larios, PODER Oregon Board Chair and President Anthony Veliz and former Oregon State Rep. Teresa Alonso Leon.

“Farmworkers, and immigrant working families are the backbone of Oregon’s agricultural labor force,” Lopez said. “It is no secret that our farmworkers are heavily burdened by a lack of access to legal status. An executive action granting spouses of citizens a pathway to permanent residency is critical to the well-being of our families and our communities.

“This is a step in the right direction; President Biden should continue to use his executive powers to build a path for legalization. PCUN supports this decision.”

The local speakers also stressed that this is just a beginning.

“We celebrate today with the Oregon families who will feel relief and will be protected,” Peña said. “However, this is only a part of what we need. Oregon’s families need comprehensive immigration reform. We pledge to keep advocating for sensible immigration reforms for the parents of US citizens, for workers, for caretakers, and every immigrant Oregonian who wants to contribute to their community.“

Those contributions are weighty.

“Nearly half of all workers who grow and harvest our food here in Oregon are immigrants,” Salinas said. “They are vital to every sector of our labor force and economy, but they are the fabric of our community, and for too long they have been denied the certainty that other Oregonians enjoy.”