The move by US President Joe Biden to extend protections to undocumented immigrants could help him in the election season in states like Nevada, Arizona and Georgia. (Image: Reuters)
US President Biden will announce new protections for spouses of US citizens who are living illegally for years in the US.
US President Biden will announce new protections for immigrants who have been living in the US illegally for years but are married to US citizens, the New York Times said in a report citing people familiar with the developments.
The policy will be announced as the US marks 12 years of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, popularly known as DACA. DACA protects people who came to the United States as children from deportation. It should be noted that this policy has not been formally announced.
This policy may help Biden in key battleground states like Nevada, Arizona and Georgia where 100,000 voters live in “mixed status” households ahead of the November 8 elections, the newspaper said.
What Does This Policy Mean?
The new policy shall ensure that undocumented spouses of US citizens will be shielded from deportation. They will be given work permits and a a pathway to citizenship.
Who All Does This Impact?
The New York Times report said that it could impact up to 500,000 undocumented spouses.
Does Marriage To US Citizen Not Help In Gaining US Citizenship?
Marrying an American citizen can help someone become a US citizen as it provides a pathway. However, if they entered the country illegally through the southern border, they usually need to go back to their home country to get a green card.
This process can cause long separations from their spouses and families. Biden’s new rule aims to let families stay together in the US while they work on getting legal status.
This is as big as President Barack Obama’s DACA implementation which provided relief to unauthorised immigrants. Biden may announces new ways to help Dreamers (people in DACA) to gain access to work visas.
‘Parole In Place’
President Biden is expected to announce a program called “parole in place” on Tuesday. This program has been used before for groups like military families. It provides unauthorised immigrants in the US with temporary protection from deportation and allows them to get a work permit.
