President Joe Biden is preparing to announce new measures that would provide work permits and other benefits to illegal migrants with long-standing ties in the United States. The White House is expected to unveil these actions next week, focusing on shielding the spouses of U.S. citizens without legal status from deportation. This move comes as Biden seeks to balance stricter border control measures with more humane immigration policies.
Biden’s plan would use his executive powers to implement “parole-in-place,” offering deportation protections and work permits to eligible immigrants. This process also removes legal obstacles preventing them from obtaining green cards and eventually, U.S. citizenship. This strategy has been previously used for immigrants related to U.S. military members.
White House officials are considering applying this benefit to spouses of Americans who have resided in the U.S. for at least five to ten years. The details of the plan are still under discussion, and no final decisions have been made. A White House official emphasized that President Biden has not yet been presented with the final proposal for approval.
During a recent event at the White House, Biden indicated that he would soon announce additional actions to reform the immigration system. “In the weeks ahead, I will speak to how we can make our immigration system more fair and more just,” Biden said.
The immigrant advocacy group FWD.us estimates that around 1.1 million undocumented immigrants are married to U.S. citizens. However, the actual number of people who could benefit from Biden’s plan might be smaller, depending on the specifics of the proposal.
Advocates are also pushing for benefits for undocumented immigrants who provide caregiving roles for American family members. Although this provision is less likely to be enacted, it would allow such caregivers to apply for “cancellation of removal,” impacting immigrants who care for family members with specific needs or disabilities.
The White House has invited lawmakers to an event next Tuesday to celebrate the 12th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which protects young immigrants known as “Dreamers.” This event underscores the administration’s ongoing commitment to immigration reform.
These proposed measures are likely to spark debate among lawmakers and the public. While some view them as necessary steps toward a fairer immigration system, others may see them as undermining efforts to secure the border. The outcome of these proposals will significantly impact the lives of many undocumented immigrants in the United States.
