5 months ago
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US President Joe Biden is set to announce a comprehensive new policy on Tuesday that aims to protect hundreds of thousands of individuals married to US citizens from deportation. This move, highly anticipated by many Democrats, emerges as a significant election-year decision on immigration.
On the agenda for a
White House event
, US President plans to introduce this initiative while also celebrating the Obama-era program known as the "dreamers" directive.
This directive has historically provided deportation protections for young undocumented immigrants.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the new policy will offer approximately 490,000 spouses of US citizens the chance to apply for a "parole in place" program. If they have resided in the country for at least 10 years, this program would not only shield them from deportation but also grant them work permits. These sources requested anonymity as they were not authorized to discuss the announcement publicly.
The
White House
opted not to comment on the announcement when reached on Monday.
This announcement represents a pivotal moment for Biden's administration. At the beginning of his presidency, Biden pledged to advocate for broader relief for the millions of immigrants in the US without permanent legal status. However, as migrant numbers hit record highs and Biden gears up for a potential re-election contest against
Donald Trump
, recent policy changes have reflected a stricter stance. Earlier this month, Biden's administration implemented a border crackdown that many critics feel mirrors those of Trump's era.
The recent restrictive measures at the US-Mexico border, effectively halting asylum processing, have drawn criticism from Biden’s political allies.
Representative Nanette Barragan, D-Calif., who heads the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, expressed her support for upcoming announcements, predicting they would bring "tears of joy paired with some sighs of relief" for many families.
Some families affected by Biden's new policy are expected to attend the White House event on Tuesday afternoon.
For a while, administration officials have explored various ways to protect immigrants without legal status but with deep-rooted ties in the US The authority Biden is leveraging will not only offer deportation protections and work permits but will also remove legal barriers, allowing eligible immigrants to apply for permanent residency and, eventually, US citizenship. This authority has previously been applied to other groups, including US military members and their families without legal status.
"Today, I have spoken about what we need to do to secure the border,” Biden said at a June 4 White House event when introducing his order to suspend asylum processing for many migrants. “In the weeks ahead - and I mean the weeks ahead - I will speak to how we can make our immigration system more fair and more just."
Biden is also expected to extend eligibility for visas to recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, moving beyond the temporary work authorizations currently granted to them.
Immigration advocates welcomed the expected policy for spouses of US citizens, noting the challenges these individuals face in obtaining legal status despite having substantial ties in the country.
"This is a defining moment in history, and we need to meet this moment," said Ashley DeAzevedo, president of American Families United, an advocacy group for US citizens married to foreign nationals.
Despite the positive reception from advocates, Biden’s use of this authority could face legal challenges, similar to the challenges faced by the DACA program. The White House plans to commemorate the 12th anniversary of the DACA program, initiated by then-President Barack Obama to protect young immigrants, often referred to as "dreamers."
In recent weeks, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus has urged Biden to shield the spouses of US citizens from deportation and to create work visas for graduates of US colleges who came to the country without authorization as children.
Several House Democrats plan to return to Washington for the announcement, which is expected to be warmly received within their ranks.
Senator Alex Padilla, D-Calif., described Biden's action as "justice" that "was long overdue for the people who have been waiting but are key to so many thriving families and communities."
Advocates believe the policy could be politically advantageous for Biden.
"We anticipate that immigrant and Latino voters will express their gratitude at the ballot box in November," said Gustavo Torres, president of CASA in Action.
Donald Trump, on the other hand, has pledged to deport millions of migrants if he is re-elected. His campaign’s rhetoric continues to be strongly anti-immigration.
While Biden's policy targets longtime US residents, it has drawn criticism from Republicans. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, characterized it as a "huge magnet" for potential immigrants, suggesting it would "attract even more people" to the border.
(With inputs from agencies)
