Policy Details
's new immigration policy focuses on undocumented immigrants married to citizens, aiming to provide a pathway to legal status and work permits without deportation, benefiting an estimated half a million individuals.
Eligibility criteria include living in the U.S. for at least 10 years, being in a legal marriage as of June 17, 2024, and having no serious criminal record. The program also extends benefits to approximately 50,000 children of the undocumented spouses.
Political and Public Reactions
The initiative is positioned as pro-family and an effort to provide relief to long-term undocumented residents, with some likening it to a 'pull factor' for more illegal immigration, drawing criticism from Republicans.
This announcement comes after a recent border tightening measure by President Biden, which received backlash from immigrant-rights advocates, and is seen as an attempt to balance border security concerns with immigrant support ahead of the elections.