The Biden administration has introduced a new program providing deportation protection, work permits, and a pathway to citizenship for up to 500,000 immigrant spouses of U.S. citizens. This initiative aims to ease the prolonged family separations caused by existing immigration laws, which require individuals who entered the U.S. illegally to return to their home countries to complete the green card process.
Senior administration officials have noted that this new policy could impact over half a million immigrants. To qualify, immigrants must have resided in the U.S. for at least 10 years as of June 17, 2024, and be married to a U.S. citizen. Approved applicants will have three years to apply for a green card and will receive a temporary work permit and protection from deportation during this period.
Additionally, around 50,000 noncitizen children with a parent married to a U.S. citizen may also be eligible for the same process. There is no requirement regarding the duration of the marriage, as long as the 10-year residency criterion is met by June 17, 2024.
Officials expect the application process to begin by the end of the summer, though the fees are still being determined. This announcement coincides with the 12th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, an Obama-era initiative providing deportation protections and temporary work permits for young undocumented immigrants.
The White House has urged House Democrats to return to Washington for the announcement. Alongside this, President Biden plans to introduce new regulations to help certain DACA beneficiaries and other young immigrants more easily qualify for established work visas, offering stronger protections than DACA’s temporary work permits.
The policy utilizes the “parole in place” authority previously employed by Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama for family members of military personnel. This process allows eligible immigrants to pursue U.S. permanent residency without leaving the country, removing a significant hurdle for those married to American citizens but lacking legal status.
This announcement follows Biden’s recent border policy changes, which halted asylum claims for those arriving outside designated ports of entry. These changes have resulted in a decrease in border encounters and are currently facing legal challenges from immigrant-rights groups.
