More than half a million migrants living in the United States without legal status will benefit from a new program announced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) this Tuesday. The plan aims to regularize the status of spouses of U.S. citizens, graduates from local universities, and individuals who entered the country as children, according to the DHS text.
Additionally, the program will consider those who have lived in the country for "at least 10 years and are married to a U.S. citizen before June 17, 2024," as previously reported by several media outlets.
The actions are designed to "promote family unity in the immigration process, consistent with the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to keeping families together," the document states. It also highlights the importance of this policy in allowing residents to process their status within the country, something that was impossible under previous regulations.
The current rule stipulates that "to apply for legal permanent residence, many non-citizens must first leave the United States and wait to be processed abroad, resulting in a potentially indefinite period of separation from their U.S. citizen family members and causing significant hardship for all involved. Consequently, these families live in fear and face deep uncertainty about their future."
The new process will consider the time spent in the country and whether the individuals pose a threat to public or national security. "If a non-citizen poses a threat to national or public security, the DHS will detain, deport, or refer them to other federal agencies for further investigation or prosecution, as appropriate," the document elaborates.
According to government figures, approximately 50,000 stepchildren of U.S. citizens will be eligible for the new regulation, in addition to half a million migrants, who will have a three-year period to apply for permanent residence once their cases are reviewed and approved.
During this period, they will be allowed to remain in the U.S., apply for a work permit of up to three years, receive their Green Card, and even apply for citizenship. Highly skilled job offers will also allow graduates from U.S. higher education institutions to benefit from Biden's reform, which will ease the process of obtaining work visas. This measure will also be accessible to the so-called "dreamers" (young people who entered the U.S. illegally as children under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA policy).
The document notes that these measures align with previous actions executed by the Biden-Harris Administration, such as the implementation and update of parole processes for family reunification for citizens of Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Ecuador, Cuba, and Haiti, among others.
Understanding the New Immigration Program
To provide more clarity on the new immigration program introduced by the Biden Administration, here are some frequently asked questions and their answers.
Who is eligible for the new immigration program?
Eligible individuals include spouses of U.S. citizens, graduates from U.S. universities, those who entered the country as children, and those who have lived in the U.S. for at least 10 years and are married to a U.S. citizen before June 17, 2024.
What benefits does the program offer?
The program allows eligible individuals to stay in the U.S. while their application is reviewed, apply for a three-year work permit, receive a Green Card, and even apply for citizenship.
How does this program promote family unity?
The program aims to keep families together by allowing individuals to process their residency status within the U.S., avoiding prolonged and uncertain separations from their U.S. citizen family members.
What are the security considerations of the program?
The DHS will review each case to ensure that applicants do not pose a threat to public or national security. Those who do will be detained, deported, or referred for further investigation or prosecution.