About 550,000 illegal immigrants are affected by the move, according to the White House.
On June 18, President Joe Biden announced a new immigration policy aimed at protecting certain illegal immigrants from deportation if they are married to U.S. citizens or have a parent married to a U.S. citizen. This initiative, managed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, covers approximately 500,000 spouses and 50,000 children, allowing them to seek legal status without leaving the country, provided they have lived in the U.S. for at least 10 years as of June 17.
President Biden intends to highlight this program during an event marking the 12th anniversary of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), a policy he supported during his tenure as vice president under President Barack Obama. DACA protects immigrants brought to the U.S. as children from deportation and permits them to work legally.
The White House emphasized that this new policy aims to strengthen family unity and benefit the economy by keeping families together. It comes amid a broader effort to reform immigration policies, which Biden believes should include securing the border while expanding lawful pathways for immigrants who have long contributed to their communities.
The announcement has sparked varied reactions, with some praising the move as a step toward compassion and fairness, while critics, including figures from the previous administration like Stephen Miller, have labeled it as an unconstitutional amnesty that could encourage further illegal immigration.
Former President Donald Trump, on his Truth Social platform, criticized Biden's handling of immigration issues, promising corrective action if re-elected.
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