President Biden is set to unveil new regulations designed to shield the migrant spouses of U.S. citizens from the threat of deportation.
The Department of Homeland Security is tasked with rolling out a new policy that will permit certain migrants, including the non-citizen spouses and children of lawful U.S. permanent residents or citizens, to apply for lawful permanent resident status, according to the administration.
The White House anticipates that this policy will benefit approximately half a million American families, including about 50,000 individuals under the age of 21 who are either married to or the children of a U.S. citizen.
A fact sheet from the White House, shared with Fox News Digital, details the eligibility criteria for the new regulations. It specifies that the spouses of Americans must have lived in the U.S. for at least 10 years and be legally married to a U.S. citizen while meeting other immigration requirements. Those who qualify under this program will be eligible to apply for permanent U.S. residency after three years and can also receive work authorization in the U.S. for up to three years.
Additionally, the president’s new rules will simplify the visa process for U.S. college graduates, including those who benefited from the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. To qualify, these graduates must have received a degree from a U.S. educational institution and have a job offer from a U.S.-based company.
When questioned whether the new policies would extend to individuals who entered the U.S. illegally, a White House spokesperson clarified that the rules would apply to “individuals who are, eligible under existing U.S law to, be able to adjust their status.”
The spokesperson further explained, “What we are announcing are essentially streamlined processes,” emphasizing that the administration aims to create “streamlined processes” that will “ensure some predictability” for those eligible for permanent resident status.
“President Biden believes that securing the border is essential,” a White House spokesperson stated. “He also believes in expanding lawful pathways and keeping families together, and that immigrants who have been in the United States for decades, paying taxes and contributing to their communities, are part of the social fabric of our country.”
In response to the ongoing crisis at the border, Biden plans to “surge resources” and collaborate with international partners to mitigate the influx of arrivals into the United States, as stated by the White House.
The administration also emphasized that migrants who pose a threat to national security or public safety will not qualify for protection under the new rules. The DHS will either remove such individuals or refer them to other agencies for further vetting.