Amid speculation around immigrant benefits, Biden celebrates 12th anniversary of 'Dreamer' program

President Joe Biden will host an event at the White House next week to celebrate the 12th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, also known as "dreamers." The initiative was created in 2012 by then-President Barack Obama to protect young immigrants who lacked legal status, often known as "dreamers."

The announcement, reported by AP, comes at a critical time for the Biden administration's immigration policy as he prepares potential new benefits for undocumented individuals with longstanding ties to the United States, including a policy that would protect undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens from deportation and allow them to work legally in the country.

The initiatives could potentially be aimed at balancing out a crackdown on asylum seeking at the southern border implemented in the past days.

Advocates are also lobbying for benefits for undocumented immigrants who provide caregiving roles for American family members, although this provision is seen as less likely to be enacted at this time.

The actions could be announced as early as next week, though a White House official emphasized that no final decisions have been made. The president is currently attending the Group of Seven summit in Italy.

Ahead of the 12th anniversary of the establishment of DACA, a group led by U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety, gathered outside The Capitol calling on President Biden to protect Dreamers and long-term undocumented communities through executive action. Padilla was joined by immigration advocates, DACA recipients, and other lawmakers.

Senator Padilla pleaded for the administration to pass a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers:

"Every June that passes without permanent protections for DACA recipients and Dreamers is a call to action for the more than half a million DACA-recipients — from teachers and caregivers to nurses and doctors — who continue to live in limbo. While the DACA program faces challenges in court, the dreams of hundreds of thousands of young Americans are under threat. I urge President Biden to use his authority to take action and provide relief to caregivers, Dreamers, DACA-recipients, and the undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens whose dreams deserve to be protected."