US prez to offer legal status to more than 500,000 immigrants
President Joe Biden will announce a streamlined path to legal status for more than 500,000 immigrants, marking his administration’s broadest effort so far to offer deportation protections while trying to counteract criticism by some allies of his recent border crackdown.
Under the policy, eligible spouses and children of American citizens who have been in the country for at least a decade will be able to apply for lawful permanent residence without first being forced to leave the country.
That’s a radical change for those who currently must depart the US — sometimes for years — before being eligible to apply for permanent residency and work permits.
Biden planned to roll out the policy on Tuesday at a White House event commemorating the anniversary of the Obamaera Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program for undocumented immigrants who came to the US as children.
The move serves as a counterweight to the border crackdown announced earlier this month that curbed asylum claims. Biden framed the policy as necessary after talks over a bipartisan immigration deal collapsed amid criticism from former President Donald Trump.
Biden’s measure, which restricts migrants’ ability to seek asylum between ports of entry during periods of heightened migration, drew blowback from progressives and the head of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
“The president has been very clear in saying that we needed a legislative solution — but he also said when he’s talked about the executive action that he recently took that in weeks ahead, he’s going to speak on how we can make our immigration system more fairer and more just,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Monday.
Under the new policy, noncitizens who have been in the US at least 10 years as of June 17 and are legally married to American citizens are eligible for the streamlined legal status, subject to case-by-case approval by the Department of Homeland Security.
Those approved will have three years to apply for permanent residency and will be eligible for work permits during that time. Anyone deemed a security threat is not eligible.
UNDER THE POLICY, ELIGIBLE SPOUSES AND CHILDREN OF U.S. CITIZENS WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE COUNTRY FOR AT LEAST A DECADE WILL BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENCE.