Biden Unveils Path to Citizenship for Spouses of U.S.
Citizens
President Joe Biden announced a significant legalization
initiative on Tuesday, providing a path to citizenship for hundreds of
thousands of undocumented immigrants married to U.S. citizens. This
election-year move stands in stark contrast to his Republican rival Donald Trump's
plan for mass deportations.
The program, expected to benefit around 500,000 spouses who
have resided in the U.S. for at least ten years as of June 17, also extends to
approximately 50,000 children under 21 with a U.S.-citizen parent, according to
statements from the White House and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
“These actions will promote family unity and strengthen our
economy,” the White House stated.
Biden, a Democrat seeking a second term in the upcoming
November presidential election, has worked to reverse many of the restrictive
immigration policies of his predecessor Trump, who is also vying for the
presidency. However, faced with record levels of migrant arrests at the
U.S.-Mexico border, Biden has recently adopted a more stringent approach.
Earlier this month, Biden imposed a ban on most migrants
crossing the U.S.-Mexico border from requesting asylum, echoing a similar
Trump-era policy that drew criticism from immigration advocates and some
Democrats.
Biden's proposed legalization program for the spouses of
U.S. citizens aims to reinforce his campaign message of supporting a more
humane immigration system, highlighting a clear difference from Trump’s
long-standing hardline stance on both legal and illegal immigration.
The program will allow eligible spouses and children to
apply for permanent residence without leaving the U.S., eliminating a
potentially lengthy process and avoiding family separation. Those granted green
cards could eventually apply for U.S. citizenship. However, individuals deemed
public security threats or with disqualifying criminal histories will not be
eligible.
The program's implementation will begin in the coming
months, with most beneficiaries likely to be Mexicans, according to senior Biden
administration officials.
Biden will discuss the announcement at a White House event
on Tuesday, marking the anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood
Arrivals (DACA) program. He will be joined by Democratic lawmakers, immigration
advocates, DACA recipients, and spouses of undocumented individuals.
The DACA program, launched in 2012 by former President
Barack Obama and then-Vice President Biden, provides deportation relief and
work permits to 528,000 individuals brought to the U.S. as children.
