The Biden administration is set to unveil a groundbreaking immigration relief program that would provide legal status to hundreds of thousands of immigrants living in the U.S. without proper documentation. This program, currently being developed by White House officials, aims to offer work permits and deportation protections to unauthorized immigrants who are married to U.S. citizens and have resided in the country for at least 10 years. The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that the policy, known as “Parole in Place,” would also create a pathway to permanent legal status and eventual U.S. citizenship for eligible beneficiaries by addressing existing legal barriers.
Furthermore, the administration is working on another plan to streamline the process for DREAMers and other undocumented immigrants to request waivers that would facilitate their access to temporary visas, such as H-1B visas for high-skilled workers. These developments come ahead of an expected announcement on Tuesday, coinciding with the 12th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which currently shields approximately 530,000 undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children from deportation.
Reports indicate that select Democratic lawmakers have been invited to attend the upcoming immigration event at the White House, with no final decisions confirmed yet by administration officials. White House spokesperson Angelo Fernandez Hernandez emphasized the administration’s commitment to addressing the deficiencies in the current immigration system. The proposed “Parole in Place” initiative is poised to be the most significant immigration program for unauthorized immigrants since DACA, marking a milestone in the ongoing efforts to reform U.S. immigration policy.
The program is expected to benefit a specific subset of an estimated 1.1 million unauthorized immigrants who are married to American citizens, provided they meet the residency requirement and other stipulated criteria. Despite the overall number of immigrants residing in the U.S. unlawfully reaching approximately 11 million, the proposed initiative appears poised to make a substantial impact on a significant portion of this population. This move underscores President Biden’s proactive stance on immigration, particularly in the lead-up to the upcoming presidential election.
President Biden’s recent executive actions on immigration, such as the partial ban on asylum claims at the southern border, have already encountered legal challenges, including a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union. The anticipated “Parole in Place” program is likely to face similar opposition, with Republican-led states expected to challenge the policy. Republican lawmakers have been vocal in their opposition to granting amnesty to undocumented immigrants, with Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma criticizing the proposal as potentially exacerbating border-related challenges.
However, President Biden has defended his unilateral actions on immigration by highlighting Congress’s failure to pass comprehensive immigration reform. Political analysts suggest that the “Parole in Place” policy could enhance President Biden’s appeal among Latino voters, particularly those in mixed-status families who stand to benefit from the proposed program. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the agency overseeing the legal immigration system, has previously implemented a limited “Parole in Place” program for military families, enabling some undocumented immigrants related to U.S. service members or veterans to obtain green cards without leaving the country.
As the administration prepares to announce these significant immigration initiatives, ongoing legal challenges and political opposition are expected. The proposed program reflects a broader shift in the Biden administration’s approach to immigration policy, with a renewed emphasis on executive actions in the absence of legislative consensus. The upcoming announcement is likely to spark debates and discussions on immigration reform, amplifying the broader national discourse on this critical issue.
