Biden Announces Order Benefiting 500,000+ Undocumented Individuals
President Biden has announced executive action that would open up a pathway to citizenship for the spouses of U.S. citizens who have been living in the country for at least 10 years as of June 17, 2024. The action comes months before a presidential election and is estimated to benefit up to 500,000 undocumented spouses and upwards of 50,000 undocumented children.
“Two weeks ago I did what Republicans in Congress refused to do. I took action in securing our border. That included restricting unlawful crossings at our southern border, making decisions on asylum more quickly, and so much more.”
Following Biden’s executive action in restricting access to asylum seekers, the President is now announcing what is the culmination of months of work and meetings. The result is a pathway to citizenship for hundreds of thousands of people. Those who meet established requirements–including a background check and a decade of uninterrupted stay in the U.S. –will have the opportunity to apply for parole–in–place, thus avoiding the punishment of 10 years many face before being eligible to regularize their status.
Dreamers, the beneficiaries of DACA–put in place under the Obama Administration– will have the opportunity to receive work permits given that they have graduated from a U.S. college or university and received a job offer in the field they have studied.
The average amount of time spent in the U.S. by the beneficiaries of this executive action is 23 years, according to a recent report by the Department of Homeland Security.
President Biden’s new announcement would protect longtime immigrants and their families, by removing bureaucratic barriers to legal status for the undocumented spouses of US citizens. The vast majority of Americans support this kind of common-sense approach. pic.twitter.com/e001Nz0019
— America’s Voice (@AmericasVoice) June 18, 2024
While the announcement is welcome news to many, there are concerns about the timeline the process will follow. An already backlogged system will see hundreds of thousands of applications added to the pile. The administration expects to rollout an application process by the end of summer–given proper resources.
Additionally, there are expected to be legal challenges to Biden’s executive order. Attorney Ezequiel Hernandez believes Biden’s order is within his right, stating that the application of PIP is not new, rather, it is simply being applied to a new category of individuals–he is changing the process, not the law. The new action essentially allows already qualified undocumented individuals to apply for legal residency without leaving the country–a journey that strikes fear in the hearts of many who do not wish to risk being separated from their families for long periods of time.
“Every nation must secure its borders. It’s that simple.” President Biden acknowledged the backlash his administration has received after closing the border to asylum seekers earlier this month. A representative of America’s Voice spoke to Univision and believes President Biden is attempting to “complement” his recent actions at the border through these efforts to keep families together.
Watch President Biden’s announcement.
Marboreth Cataño is a senior at the University of Chicago pursuing a degree in Public Policy with a specialization in International Development with minors in Anthropology and Spanish. She has lived in the Chicago suburbs her entire life and is deeply passionate about shedding light on the powerful and emotional stories of the vast immigrant population in the Chicagoland area. She believes visibility is the key to enacting change that reflects the needs of everyone—not just those with the loudest voices. The child of two proud Mexican immigrants, Marboreth has always had a special interest in how migrant communities find ways to create a home away from home to navigate the harsh realities of U.S. immigration policies, especially since these regulations often result in the separation of families and lives spent in “golden cages.” In her position with the Latina Republic, Marboreth hopes to give a voice to Latin American immigrants who contribute to the culture, diversity, and prosperity of Chicago.