WASHINGTON ( AP ) — , President Joe Biden , will sponsor a White House celebration next year celebrating an , Obama- period directive that offered deportation protections , for fresh illegal immigrants, as his own administration prepares possible new benefits for people without lawful status but with extended- standing relationships in the United States.
According to five people with expertise of the discussions, White House officials are close to implementing a program that would use Biden’s executive powers to protect spouses of U.S. citizens without legal position from deportation, grant them labor permits, and relieve their transition to permanent residency and finally American citizenship.
The people claimed those plans could be made public as soon as next week, but a White House official on Thursday stressed that no final decisions have been made regarding what Biden might say or say. Biden had not received the proposal for his final approval as of earlier this week, which made it more uncertain about the timing of any announcement. The president is , currently in Italy , participating in the Group of Seven summit of the world’s wealthiest democracies.
But Biden telegraphed last week as he rolled out his directive to , crack down on asylum claims at the border , — a move that has  , infuriated immigrant- rights groups , and many Democratic lawmakers — that he would be announcing other actions more to the advocates ‘ liking.
” Today, I have spoken about what we need to do to secure the border”, Biden said at the , June 4 event at the White House. ” In the weeks ahead — and I mean the weeks ahead — I will discuss how we can make our immigration system more just and fair,” he said.
To protect the spouses of Americans, the administration is expected to use a process called “parole- in- place”. It removes a legal barrier that prevents qualifying immigrants from obtaining a green card and eventually, U.S. citizenship, as well as providing deportation protections and work permits to them.
That authority has already been applied to other groups of immigrants, such as members of the United States military or members of their legal families.
According to the people who received briefings on the discussions, White House officials were working toward a plan that would allow spouses of Americans who have lived here for at least five or ten years to be granted parole. The individuals were given the right to speak on private terms about internal White House discussions.
The FWD-based organization for immigrant advocacy. According to us, there are roughly 1.1 million immigrants who are not legally married to Americans. However, depending on how the Biden administration writes the proposal, the actual universe of people who could qualify for the president’s plan is likely far smaller.
According to two people with access to the discussions, advocates were also lobbying the White House to pass a provision that would be much less likely to be passed for now for immigrants without legal status who provide caregiving roles to American family members. Immigration, like family members of Americans who have specific needs or disabilities, would be affected by allowing such caregivers to apply for a so-called” cancellation of removal.”
According to a person with knowledge of the situation, the White House has invited lawmakers to an event Tuesday afternoon to celebrate the 12th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. The initiative was created June 15, 2012, by then- President Barack Obama to protect young immigrants who lacked legal status, often known as” Dreamers”.
House lawmakers will be taking a break from Washington, but White House officials say it will be worthwhile to attend the event.
” We’re expecting positive news”, said Rep. Nanette Barragán, the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, a Democratic group that has advocated for the White House to take action to provide relief for immigrants.
She said,” I think it just says that we value our immigrants and those who are a part of the American fabric.”
