This Wednesday, President Joe Biden will appeal to the Latino vote in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he will address policies that have benefited this population, but will announce executive actions on education and immigration.
“Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is announcing new actions to advance educational opportunities for Latino communities and give more families a fair shot at achieving the American dream,” the White House said in a statement.
Highlights actions at Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs).
“With more than 500 HSIs in 27 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, HSIs make an extraordinary contribution to our nation’s higher education system, including the education of more than 4.7 million students,” it said. “More than 65 percent of Hispanic and Latino college students in the U.S. attend an HSI, and nearly 40 percent of those students attend a two-year HSI.”
President Biden will sign an executive order establishing the initiative to promote equity, educational excellence, and economic opportunity through Hispanic-Serving Institutions, the Administration announced.
The order sets forth several goals, including increasing awareness of opportunities for HSIs to participate in federal programs and improving their ability to meet the educational needs of their students.
This is in addition to best practices for HSIs to scale strategies that even help the economic mobility of their students, with a focus on state and national needs especially in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Teaching.
Strengthening HSIs also includes approaches to philanthropic organizations and the private sector.
Actions for ‘dreamers’ and families
President Biden also announces new actions to expand access to legal representation and immigration services.
“These actions build on steps the Administration has taken to strengthen and improve our immigration system, including eliminating the backlog of naturalization applications and vigorously defending the DACA policy,” it said.
It is also announced that the Department of Education is issuing a rule to expand the federal TRIO program, which would allow “dreamers” to enroll.
“The TRIO program helps low-income students and students who would be the first in their family to go to college successfully transition,” it said. “The proposed expansion would mean approximately 50,000 more students each year.”
Additionally, access to legal representation will be expanded through the Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), which will double the number of locations for its “Lawyer of the Day” program in immigration courtrooms.
“The Department will expand this program to include immigration courts in Hyattsville, Maryland; New York; and Atlanta, in addition to the three current locations: San Francisco, New Orleans and Chicago,” it said.
Additionally, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will launch “USCIS to You,” which will expand services into local communities, including rural and other underserved areas.
“Services that can be provided include naturalization interviews and oath ceremonies, customer service appointments, and education about benefits and immigration processes,” it said. “USCIS for You events will be coordinated in partnership with communities, including libraries, community colleges, and other local entities.”
The president, his campaign confirmed, will participate in the UnidosUS Conference, then attend a community event where he will give a speech and greet supporters and local volunteers.