President Joe Biden’s new immigration policy protects some 500,000 people married to U.S. citizens from deportation and offers them a path to citizenship.
The election-year move comes just two weeks after Biden imposed a sweeping crackdown on the U.S.-Mexico border, cutting off access to asylum for people who entered the United States illegally.
The policy announced on Tuesday is aimed at people who have lived in the United States for more than ten years and have built their lives and families here.
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Here’s how it works:
Why do the spouses of American citizens need protection?
Marrying a U.S. citizen generally provides a path to U.S. citizenship. But people who cross the southern border illegally – rather than arriving in the country on a visa – must return to their home country to complete the green card process, something that can take years. The new program allows families to remain in the country while pursuing legal status.
Who is eligible?
There are roughly 1.1 million immigrants living in the U.S. without legal permission who are married to U.S. citizens, according to Fwd.us, an immigration advocacy group, but not all of them qualify for the program.
The spouses must have lived in the United States for 10 years and be married to a U.S. citizen since June 17. They may not have a criminal record. Officials estimate the policy will provide legal status and protection to about 500,000 people. The benefits would also extend to the approximately 50,000 children of spouses living in the country without legal permission who become stepchildren of U.S. citizens.
When does the program come into effect?
Biden administration officials said they expected the program to launch by the end of the summer. Those who qualify can then apply for the benefits.
Why is Biden doing this now?
Biden is trying to strike a tricky balance on immigration, which is a serious political vulnerability for him. Polls show that Americans want stricter policies. Just two weeks ago, Biden announced a crackdown on asylum policies at the southern border.
His new policy, which offers new legal protections to hundreds of thousands of immigrants, is a way for him to heed calls from the Democratic Party’s progressive base, which has accused the White House of betraying campaign promises to more humane approach to immigrants. .
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