US President Joe Biden has announced a new effort to provide a path to citizenship to hundreds of thousands of immigrants in the U.S. who are married to American citizens but lack legal status in the country. This executive action to protect undocumented spouses of American citizens would shield about 500,000 immigrants from deportation. The move will also contrast sharply with Republican rival Donald Trump’s plan for mass deportations. The new policy would allow noncitizens who have been in the country for at least 10 years and are married to a U.S. citizen, and their children, to apply for permanent residence without leaving the country.
During a ceremony at the White House, Mr Biden said the order would go into effect this summer and stressed that it would not benefit people who recently came into the country. He added that it would help people who are paying taxes and contributing to our country and their family members.