Biden to Announce Policy Protecting Undocumented Spouses of US Citizens
By Boniface Ihiasota, USA
President Joe Biden is set to announce a groundbreaking policy to protect hundreds of thousands of undocumented spouses of US citizens from deportation, according to senior administration officials.
This new policy, as gathered by Excel Magazine will apply to individuals who have been in the US for at least ten years, allowing them to work legally in the country.
The move is considered the most significant relief program for undocumented migrants since the Obama administration’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in 2012.
The White House estimates that over 500,000 spouses of US citizens will benefit, alongside 50,000 young people under 21 whose parent is married to an American citizen.
To qualify, individuals must have lived in the US for ten years and been married as of June 17.
Eligible individuals will have three years to apply for permanent residency and will be eligible for a three-year work permit.
On average, those eligible have been in the US for 23 years, with a majority born in Mexico. Beneficiaries will be “paroled in place,” allowing them to remain in the US while their status is adjusted.
NumbersUSA, an immigration reform group, criticized the policy as “unconscionable.” James Massa, the organization’s chief executive, stated that Biden’s action overreaches executive authority and circumvents voters and their elected representatives.
In contrast, immigration lawyer Alex Cuic of Case Western Reserve University hailed the policy as a significant step for a historically marginalized group.
Cuic emphasized that allowing beneficiaries to parole in place avoids the need for family separation during the application process for lawful permanent residence.
This announcement precedes an event on Tuesday marking the 12th anniversary of the DACA program, which protected over 530,000 migrants who came to the US as children from deportation.
Immigration remains a critical issue for many voters ahead of the November presidential election. Earlier in June, President Biden vowed to make the US immigration system “more fair and more just.”
In addition to this policy, the White House plans to streamline the visa process for highly skilled undocumented immigrants with US degrees or job offers, including Dreamers.
This comes after a recent executive order allowing rapid removal of migrants entering the US illegally once a daily threshold is met.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has sued the Biden administration, claiming the executive order violates US immigration law.
Despite criticisms, Aaron Reichlin-Melnick of the American Immigration Council believes these actions address both the concerns of new arrivals and long-term undocumented immigrants navigating the complex US immigration system.
