'California wins big' with Biden's new immigration policy shielding undocumented spouses

Marrying a U.S. citizen normally provides a pathway to citizenship. But people who enter the U.S. illegally must return to their home countries to get a green card. That process can take up to 10 years, and is often the main hurdle for families, Salas said.

The program announced Tuesday allows immigrant spouses to remain in the U.S. while applying for lawful permanent residence. People who are approved for the program by the Department of Homeland Security have three years to apply for permanent residency and are eligible for work authorization during that time.

White House officials told reporters that the program would open for applicants later this summer. The program is expected to face legal challenges.

Biden’s election-year move comes just two weeks after the White House announced it was temporarily closing the Southern border to asylum seekers who crossed illegally. Advocates are suing over that rule, which allows the U.S. to close the U.S.-Mexico border when immigration surges.

Salas said Tuesday’s decision “cannot be seen in a vacuum,”and advocacy organizations will continue to speak out against the recent asylum order and push for permanent immigration solutions.

“It’s a good day for those families, even as we know that we have millions and millions of people who still need a solution,” she said.

Immigration, a polarized issue that has become a focal point of the 2024 election, has long been used as a political talking point. Still, Congress hasn’t passed comprehensive immigration reform in decades. The Senate passed a bipartisan measure in 2013 but it went nowhere in the House of Representatives.

Republicans lambasted Biden’s announcement on Tuesday and accused him of taking actions to bolster his election odds.

“Biden is preparing to give MASS AMNESTY to hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens!” former President Donald Trump, the presumed GOP presidential nominee, posted Monday on his social media platform, Truth Social. "This is unsustainable and can’t be allowed to continue! On day one, we will SHUT DOWN THE BORDER and start deporting millions of Biden’s Illegal Criminals.”

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