President Biden Announces New Policy Protecting Undocumented Spouses of US Citizens

NEW YORK, New York – Caribbean-American Democratic Congresswoman, Yvette D. Clarke, and immigration advocates have welcomed what they describe as President Joe Biden’s “commonsense actions” to support long-standing undocumented immigrants.

On Tuesday, Biden announced new actions that would support the ability of undocumented immigrants to work and remain in the United States with their families without fear of deportation, while they pursue a pathway to legal status.

“Undocumented Americans have come to represent an irreplaceable element of our social and economic fabric,” said Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants.

She noted that over the last weekend, America “commemorated 12 years of being uplifted and bettered by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) and that “ we were each reminded of the vast contributions undocumented individuals continue to bring to our communities through their determination, talents and devotion to an often-ungrateful nation”.

The representative for the predominantly Caribbean 9th Congressional District in Brooklyn, said yet, far too many immigrants have remained plagued by uncertainty surrounding their status.

“Thankfully, through the Biden-Harris administration’s historic action… we are on the humanitarian path forward,” Clarke said, adding this policy change “stands among the most significant steps to protect immigrants and their families since President Obama first announced DACA.

“For undocumented spouses of US citizens. whose future in our nation is now secured, the many children living in mixed-status households who were at risk of losing a parent to deportation, and the countless other Americans who are proud to hold an undocumented person close to their hearts, the immediate and meaningful impact of this moment cannot be overstated,” she told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC).

“President Biden’s announcement is an essential step in our fight to provide undocumented Americans the lives they deserve, and the stability we are each entitled to.  Moreover, it upholds the truth that our first priority is, and must always be, to keep families together.

“But make no mistake, despite today’s landmark announcement, we must not lose sight of the road ahead.“Securing a pathway to citizenship is as necessary now as ever before.

“With this administration’s dedication to supporting immigrant families of every background and within every community, I am optimistic that we will reach the progress undocumented individuals have long awaited,” Clarke said.

President and chief executive officer of the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), Murad Awawdeh, told  CMC “we commend President Biden and Vice President Harris for taking welcome action to address the needs of immigrant communities and keep families together.

“Common sense use of existing law to provide solutions is the sort of positive leadership we need to reform our immigration system. Increasing access to work authorization and legal status is a smart investment in creating a stronger America and a robust workforce.

“It’s also the right thing to do to keep families united and equip people to support themselves and thrive with dignity. A balanced approach to fixing our immigration system ensures a fair, humane and orderly system for managing the border and access to safe and lawful pathways for immigration – as well as citizenship for DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival) recipients, Dreamers and long-settled immigrant families who have long called America home,” he added.

Awawdeh said Biden’s actions are “a step in the right direction to building a future that unites us all,” calling, at the same time, on the Biden administration to “build on this historic announcement in the coming week”.

He said this new process could benefit up to 500,000 immigrants, and 50,000 of their children under the age of 21.

The deputy director of Make the Road New York, another immigration advocacy organization, also said Biden’s action is “a step in the right direction for the nearly half a million people living in the United States, who may benefit from today’s announcement.”

“For years, we have been calling on the president to pass immigration reform,” Natalia Aristizabal told CMC, adding “in the absence of congressional action on a comprehensive and humane bill, we are glad to see Biden announce this.

“This victory comes after years of pushing the administration to provide solutions for the immigrant community. While immigrants in the United States have been under tremendous threat from extremists, we have shown that we will not back down and will continue to hold leaders accountable for delivering for our families.”

In his announcement,  Biden said this new process will help certain noncitizen spouses and children apply for lawful permanent residence – “status that they are already eligible for – without leaving the country.”

“These actions will promote family unity and strengthen our economy, providing a significant benefit to the country and helping US citizens and their noncitizen family members stay together,” he said.

In order to be eligible, Biden said noncitizens must – as of June 17, 2024 – have resided in the United States for 10 or more years and be legally married to a US citizen, while satisfying all applicable legal requirements.

On average, he said those who are eligible for this process have resided in the US for 23 years.

The president said those who are approved after Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) case-by-case assessment of their application will be afforded a three-year period to apply for permanent residency.

“They will be allowed to remain with their families in the United States and be eligible for work authorization for up to three years,” Biden said, adding this will apply to all married couples who are eligible.

He said this action will protect about half a million spouses of US citizens, and about 50,000 noncitizen children under the age of 21 whose parent is married to a US citizen.