WASHINGTON (NewsNation) — The Biden administration announced a new policy Tuesday that would protect about half a million immigrants in the country illegally from deportation.
Senior White House officials say the executive action, being dubbed “Parole in Place,” would give some immigrant spouses of American citizens a path to citizenship while staying in the country.
This marks one of the greatest immigration relief programs in years, with President Joe Biden’s team officially announcing plans for the program that would offer a pathway to legal status and protection from deportation to immigrants who have been in America for at least 10 years and who are married to U.S. citizens.
The plan would also allow a pathway for stepchildren of those U.S. citizens in the country illegally and under 21 years old.
The Tuesday morning announcement comes amid the 12-year anniversary celebration of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which Biden will celebrate at the White House later in the day with immigrant advocacy and Latino leaders.
Biden’s move comes weeks after the administration adopted a crackdown on asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border that angered the same groups the new measure is designed to please.
Neither measure came as a surprise: For months, immigration advocates had been dreading the border security initiative and eagerly awaiting the relief measure.
The Hill contributed to this report.