Presidential DocumentExecutive Order 140122021-02563
Restoring Faith in Our Legal Immigration Systems and Strengthening Integration and Inclusion Efforts for New Americans
Primary source
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Published
February 5, 2021
Signed
February 2, 2021
Issuing agencies
Executive Office of the President
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 23 (Friday, February 5, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 23 (Friday, February 5, 2021)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 8277-8280]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-02563]
Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 23 / Friday, February 5, 2021 /
Presidential Documents
[[Page 8277]]
Executive Order 14012 of February 2, 2021
Restoring Faith in Our Legal Immigration Systems
and Strengthening Integration and Inclusion Efforts for
New Americans
By the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Policy. Over 40 million foreign-born
individuals live in the United States today. Millions
more Americans have immigrants in their families or
ancestry. New Americans and their children fuel our
economy, working in every industry, including
healthcare, construction, caregiving, manufacturing,
service, and agriculture. They open and successfully
run businesses at high rates, creating jobs for
millions, and they contribute to our arts, culture, and
government, providing new traditions, customs, and
viewpoints. They are essential workers helping to keep
our economy afloat and providing important services to
Americans during a global pandemic. They have helped
the United States lead the world in science,
technology, and innovation. And they are on the
frontlines of research to develop coronavirus disease
2019 (COVID-19) vaccines and treatments for those
afflicted with the deadly disease.
Consistent with our character as a Nation of
opportunity and of welcome, it is essential to ensure
that our laws and policies encourage full participation
by immigrants, including refugees, in our civic life;
that immigration processes and other benefits are
delivered effectively and efficiently; and that the
Federal Government eliminates sources of fear and other
barriers that prevent immigrants from accessing
government services available to them. Our Nation is
enriched socially and economically by the presence of
immigrants, and we celebrate with them as they take the
important step of becoming United States citizens. The
Federal Government should develop welcoming strategies
that promote integration, inclusion, and citizenship,
and it should embrace the full participation of the
newest Americans in our democracy.
Sec. 2. Role of the Domestic Policy Council. The role
of the White House Domestic Policy Council (DPC) is to
convene executive departments and agencies (agencies)
to coordinate the formulation and implementation of my
Administration's domestic policy objectives. Consistent
with that role, the DPC shall coordinate the Federal
Government's efforts to welcome and support immigrants,
including refugees, and to catalyze State and local
integration and inclusion efforts. In furtherance of
these goals, the DPC shall convene a Task Force on New
Americans, which shall include members of agencies that
implement policies that impact immigrant communities.
Sec. 3. Restoring Trust in our Legal Immigration
System. The Secretary of State, the Attorney General,
and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall review
existing regulations, orders, guidance documents,
policies, and any other similar agency actions
(collectively, agency actions) that may be inconsistent
with the policy set forth in section 1 of this order.
(a) In conducting this review, the Secretary of
State, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of
Homeland Security shall:
(i) identify barriers that impede access to immigration benefits and fair,
efficient adjudications of these benefits and make recommendations on how
to remove these barriers, as appropriate and consistent with applicable
law; and
[[Page 8278]]
(ii) identify any agency actions that fail to promote access to the legal
immigration system--such as the final rule entitled, ``U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services Fee Schedule and Changes to Certain Other Immigration
Benefit Request Requirements,'' 85 Fed. Reg. 46788 (Aug. 3, 2020), in light
of the Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act (title I of division D of
Public Law 116-159)--and recommend steps, as appropriate and consistent
with applicable law, to revise or rescind those agency actions.
(b) Within 90 days of the date of this order, the
Secretary of State, the Attorney General, and the
Secretary of Homeland Security shall each submit a plan
to the President describing the steps their respective
agencies will take to advance the policy set forth in
section 1 of this order.
(c) Within 180 days of submitting the plan
described in subsection (b) of this section, the
Secretary of State, the Attorney General, and the
Secretary of Homeland Security shall each submit a
report to the President describing the progress of
their respective agencies towards implementing the plan
developed pursuant to subsection (b) of this section
and recognizing any areas of concern or barriers to
implementing the plan.
Sec. 4. Immediate Review of Agency Actions on Public
Charge Inadmissibility. The Secretary of State, the
Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland Security,
and the heads of other relevant agencies, as
appropriate, shall review all agency actions related to
implementation of the public charge ground of
inadmissibility in section 212(a)(4) of the Immigration
and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(4), and the
related ground of deportability in section 237(a)(5) of
the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1227(a)(5). They shall, in
considering the effects and implications of public
charge policies, consult with the heads of relevant
agencies, including the Secretary of Agriculture, the
Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
(a) This review should:
(i) consider and evaluate the current effects of these agency actions and
the implications of their continued implementation in light of the policy
set forth in section 1 of this order;
(ii) identify appropriate agency actions, if any, to address concerns about
the current public charge policies' effect on the integrity of the Nation's
immigration system and public health; and
(iii) recommend steps that relevant agencies should take to clearly
communicate current public charge policies and proposed changes, if any, to
reduce fear and confusion among impacted communities.
(b) Within 60 days of the date of this order, the
Secretary of State, the Attorney General, and the
Secretary of Homeland Security shall each submit a
report to the President describing any agency actions
identified pursuant to subsection (a)(ii) of this
section and any steps their agencies intend to take or
have taken, consistent with subsection (a)(iii) of this
section.
Sec. 5. Promoting Naturalization.
(a) Improving the naturalization process. The
Secretary of State, the Attorney General, and the
Secretary of Homeland Security shall, within 60 days of
the date of this order, develop a plan describing any
agency actions, in furtherance of the policy set forth
in section 1 of this order, that they will take to:
(i) eliminate barriers in and otherwise improve the existing naturalization
process, including by conducting a comprehensive review of that process
with particular emphasis on the N-400 application, fingerprinting,
background and security checks, interviews, civics and English language
tests, and the oath of allegiance;
(ii) substantially reduce current naturalization processing times;
[[Page 8279]]
(iii) make the naturalization process more accessible to all eligible
individuals, including through a potential reduction of the naturalization
fee and restoration of the fee waiver process;
(iv) facilitate naturalization for eligible candidates born abroad and
members of the military, in consultation with the Department of Defense;
and
(v) review policies and practices regarding denaturalization and passport
revocation to ensure that these authorities are not used excessively or
inappropriately.
(b) Implementing improvements to the naturalization
process. Within 180 days of the issuance of the plan
developed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section,
the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, and the
Secretary of Homeland Security shall each submit a
report to the President describing the progress in
implementing the plan, any barriers to implementing the
plan, and any additional areas of concern that should
be addressed to ensure that eligible individuals are
able to apply for naturalization in a fair and
efficient manner.
(c) Strategy to promote naturalization. There is
established an Interagency Working Group on Promoting
Naturalization (Naturalization Working Group) to
develop a national strategy to promote naturalization.
The Naturalization Working Group shall be chaired by
the Secretary of Homeland Security, or the Secretary's
designee, and it shall include the heads of the
following agencies, or senior-level officials
designated by the head of each agency:
(i) the Secretary of Labor;
(ii) the Secretary of Health and Human Services;
(iii) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development;
(iv) the Secretary of Education;
(v) the Secretary of Homeland Security;
(vi) the Commissioner of Social Security; and
(vii) the heads of other agencies invited to participate by the Working
Group chair.
(d) Within 90 days of the date of this order, the
Naturalization Working Group shall submit a strategy to
the President outlining steps the Federal Government
should take to promote naturalization, including the
potential development of a public awareness campaign.
Sec. 6. Revocation. The Presidential Memorandum of May
23, 2019 (Enforcing the Legal Responsibilities of
Sponsors of Aliens), is revoked. The heads of relevant
agencies shall review any investigations or compliance
actions initiated pursuant to that memorandum and shall
determine whether to suspend, as appropriate, any
investigations or compliance actions inconsistent with
the policy set forth in section 1 of this order. The
heads of relevant agencies shall review any agency
actions developed pursuant to that memorandum and, as
appropriate, issue revised guidance consistent with the
policy set forth in section 1 of this order.
Sec. 7. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order
shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or
the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with
applicable law and subject to the availability of
appropriations.
[[Page 8280]]
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not,
create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural,
enforceable at law or in equity by any party against
the United States, its departments, agencies, or
entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any
other person.
<GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT>
(Presidential Sig.)
THE WHITE HOUSE,
February 2, 2021.
[FR Doc. 2021-02563
Filed 2-4-21; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3295-F1-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on February 5, 2021.
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