President Joe Biden is set to host a White House event celebrating an Obama-era directive that provided deportation protections for young undocumented immigrants. The Biden administration is also considering extending benefits to individuals without legal status but with longstanding ties in the United States.
White House officials are working on a plan that would utilize Biden's executive powers to shield spouses of U.S. citizens without legal status from deportation. This plan may include offering work permits, easing the path to permanent residency, and eventually granting American citizenship to eligible individuals.
The proposed actions could be announced as early as next week, although final decisions are pending Biden's approval. The president, currently attending the Group of Seven summit in Italy, hinted at forthcoming immigration-related announcements during a recent event at the White House.
The administration is expected to use a process called 'parole-in-place' to provide deportation protections and work permits to qualifying immigrants. This process would also remove legal barriers preventing them from pursuing a green card and U.S. citizenship.
Advocates estimate that approximately 1.1 million immigrants without legal status are married to Americans. However, the actual number of individuals eligible for the proposed plan may be significantly lower depending on the specific criteria outlined by the Biden administration.
Advocates have also pushed for benefits to be extended to immigrants providing caregiving roles for American family members. While this provision is less likely to be enacted at this time, it remains a topic of discussion.
In a separate development, the White House has invited lawmakers to an event commemorating the 12th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. DACA, established in 2012 by former President Barack Obama, offers protection to young immigrants without legal status, commonly referred to as 'dreamers.'
Despite House lawmakers being on recess, White House officials anticipate positive news at the event. Representative Nanette Barragán, chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, expressed optimism about potential relief measures for immigrants, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the contributions of immigrants to American society.
