US offers citizenship pathway to 550,000 migrant spouses, stepchildren

The Joe Biden administration has announced a new initiative that offers a pathway to legal status for an estimated 500,000 spouses of US citizens without requiring them to leave the country. 

This move, unveiled on Monday, is seen as one of the biggest steps taken by President Joe Biden to address the issue of illegal immigration. 

With this, up to 500,000 noncitizen spouses and 50,000 noncitizen stepchildren of US citizens may meet the eligibility criteria. If granted parole, these individuals could apply for lawful permanent residence without leaving the country, potentially bringing an end to years of uncertainty and fear for many families.

The programme, named "Keeping Families Together," aims to remove the barriers that have long plagued noncitizen spouses of US citizens. “Too often, noncitizen spouses of US citizens – many of them mothers and fathers – live with uncertainty due to undue barriers in our immigration system. 

This process to keep US families together will remove these undue barriers for those who would otherwise qualify to live and work lawfully in the US,” said Ur Jaddou, Director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

This initiative is not just about granting legal status; it's also about improving the efficiency of the immigration system, according to Jaddou. The focus will be on noncitizens who have deep-rooted connections within American communities, ensuring that the system benefits those who contribute positively to society.

For Biden, it represents one of the most significant orders since the 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programme, which allowed temporary stays for hundreds of thousands of individuals who arrived in the United States as children.

Under the "Keeping Families Together" programme, which was announced in June, spouses who have lived in the US for at least 10 years as of June 17, 2024, are eligible to apply. This programme also extends eligibility to approximately 50,000 children under the age of 21 who have a US-citizen parent.

Source : https://www.business-standard.com/finance/personal-finance/us-offers-citizenship-pathway-to-550-000-migrant-spouses-stepchildren-124082000190_1.html