Biden Announces Path to Citizenship for 500,000 Undocumented Spouses of U.S. Citizens, Dreamers

Jun 18, 2024, 08:41 PM

President Joe Biden has announced a significant new immigration policy that provides a pathway to citizenship for approximately 500,000 undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens. This executive action, which also includes work authorization, aims to protect these individuals from deportation. The policy, described as the most extensive relief program since DACA, allows eligible non-citizen spouses and children to apply for permanent residency without leaving the country. To qualify, spouses must have lived in the U.S. for at least ten years and meet certain legal criteria. Announced as an election-year move, this policy also extends protections to Dreamers. This move is seen as an effort to balance recent border crackdowns and is expected to have a profound impact on immigrant families, ensuring they can stay together and contribute to their communities.