Restoring Faith in Our Legal Immigration Systems and Strengthening Integration and Inclusion Efforts for New Americans, 8277-8280 [2021-02563]

Agencies

• Executive Office of the President

[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 [www.gpo.gov]
[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.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

                THE WHITE HOUSE,

                    February 2, 2021.

[FR Doc. 2021-02563
Filed 2-4-21; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3295-F1-P