Immigration has caused America a lot of pain over the past couple of years. But Biden and his administration remain in favor of it. Now, Biden has unveiled a program aimed at helping undocumented immigrants married to US citizens.
Eligible individuals can obtain permanent legal status without the risk of deportation and be allowed to work during the process. The President unveiled the program during an immigration event at the White House.
To be eligible, immigrants must have lived in the country for ten years or more as of June 17, 2024. They also must have married a US citizen legally by that date.
They cannot threaten public safety and national security and must not be parolees. According to officials, those eligible for the program have been residents for 23 years.
ALSO READ: Federal Judge Stops Biden’s Anti-Discrimination Healthcare Rule Based Around Gender Identity
Current law dictates that many migrants seeking legal status must initially leave the country. Then, they have to wait for processing abroad, and it could take years.
Biden’s new program will allow such people to remain in the US and work for up to three years while they seek permanent legal status. The president hopes the new rule will help keep families together.
Many are unhappy about his stance on immigration policies. But Biden has said he doesn’t believe the only way to secure the border is to stop being American.
According to him, many generations have reaped the benefits of immigrants entering the country. Reports claim the program would help about 500,000 spouses of US citizens. It will also protect about 50,000 people under age 21 who are the children of a couple made up of migrant and a US citizen couple.
The government expects the new rule to strengthen the economy. They also hope it promotes family unity by allowing families to remain together while waiting for the approval of their legal status.
The decision to unveil the program comes amid Biden’s race for a second term. The biggest threat to his success is former President Donald Trump, who takes a hard-line stance against illegal immigration.
POLL — Should Donald J. Trump Be Allowed to Run for Office?
During Biden’s term, there were record numbers of migrants illegally crossing the US-Mexico border. Last month, he signed an executive order authorizing the rejection of illegal migrants when the number of crossings is high.
The closure will automatically happen when more than 2,500 migrants enter the country between legal ports of entry. Two immigrant rights groups have challenged the rule, seeking to block the restrictions.
They claim that Biden’s order is a violation of the nation’s immigration laws because it effectively bars migrant access to the asylum system.
Biden has also been under pressure to protect long-term US residents who lack legal status. The new program doing just that was announced at a White House event marking the 12th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA.
President Barack Obama’s administration implemented DACA. They did so to protect young adults who were brought to the United States as children and who want temporary work authorization from deportation.
WATCH: Powell Warns US Is on an “Unsustainable Fiscal Path”
Biden’s new rule will also make getting work visas easier for DACA recipients and others who have earned a college degree in the United States and have a high-skilled job offer from an employer in the country.
This will make it easier for employers to hire the talent they need and ensure that people educated in the US are able to use their skills and education within the country.
You Might Also Like:
How Donald Trump’s Abortion Stances Have Shifted Over the Years
Archeologists Claim They Have Discovered the Remains of Noah’s Ark
6 Health Benefits of Pumpkin Seeds
What Will America Look Like If Trump Wins the 2024 Presidential Election
Elon Musk Accuses Kamala Harris of Lying About Trump’s Stance on Abortion Ban