WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is set to unveil a significant new policy on Tuesday that will provide deportation protection for hundreds of thousands of people married to U.S. citizens. This move, sought by many Democrats, marks a bold election-year action on immigration.
The announcement will take place during a White House event celebrating the 12th anniversary of the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, according to three individuals briefed on the plans.
The new policy will enable approximately 490,000 spouses of U.S. citizens to apply for a “parole in place” program, offering them deportation protection and work permits if they have resided in the country for at least ten years. These individuals requested anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly about the announcement.
The White House declined to comment on the matter on Monday.
This policy announcement is a significant milestone for Biden, who started his presidency with promises to support widespread relief for millions of immigrants lacking permanent legal status. However, with historic numbers of migrants at the border and an upcoming reelection bid against Donald Trump, Biden recently implemented a border clampdown, drawing criticism for its resemblance to Trump’s policies.
Earlier this month, Biden’s administration enacted a restrictive policy that essentially halted asylum processing at the U.S.-Mexico border, angering many of his political allies.
Rep. Nanette Barragán, D-Calif., chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, expressed hope that Tuesday’s announcement would bring “tears of joy paired with some sighs of relief” to the families of those benefiting from the policy.
Families expected to benefit from Biden’s actions are anticipated to attend the White House event.
Administration officials have long been considering various options to protect immigrants with deep ties to the U.S. but lacking legal status. The new authority will not only provide deportation protections and work permits but also remove legal barriers, allowing qualifying immigrants to apply for permanent residency and eventual U.S. citizenship. This power has previously been used for other groups, such as U.S. military members and their families lacking legal status.
At a June 4 White House event, Biden mentioned plans to address border security and promised to discuss reforms for a fairer immigration system in the following weeks.
Additionally, Biden is expected to announce a policy making DACA recipients eligible for visas, rather than just temporary work authorization, as per two sources briefed on the plans.
Immigration advocates praised the expected policy for spouses of U.S. citizens during a Monday conference call, emphasizing the challenges these spouses face in gaining legal status despite their deep 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 U.S. citizens married to foreign nationals.
However, Biden’s use of this authority could face legal challenges, similar to those encountered by the DACA program. The White House event will mark the 12th anniversary of DACA, which was established by President Barack Obama to protect young undocumented immigrants, often referred to as “dreamers.”
Recently, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus urged Biden to protect spouses of U.S. citizens from deportation and to consider making work visas available to graduates of U.S. colleges who arrived in the country as children without authorization.
Biden’s announcement is expected to be well-received by Democrats, with several House lawmakers returning to Washington for the event.
Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., hailed Biden’s action as “justice” that is “long overdue for the people who have been waiting but are key to so many thriving families and communities.”
Advocates also highlighted the political benefits 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.
Meanwhile, Trump has pledged to deport millions of migrants if reelected, reinforcing the anti-immigration stance that characterized his previous term.
Biden’s policy targets long-term U.S. residents, but Republicans remain critical. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, warned it would serve as a “huge magnet” for potential immigrants, suggesting it would “attract even more people” to the border.