(UnidosUS) —
Hundreds of thousands of American families and US-citizen children stand to benefit
For more than 20 years UnidosUS and the Latino community we represent have been seeking pragmatic, commonsense and compassionate relief for the long-term undocumented in our country.
Today, our country took an important step forward in securing the pathway to legal residency for hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants married to U.S. citizens, under one of President Biden’s most expansive immigration initiatives.
On June 18—in the 12th anniversary of the life-changing DACA program—we joined fellow advocates at the White House to applaud the Biden-Harris administration’s new policies that will offer much-needed relief and stability to families across the country.
The new policies will:
- Remove barriers to U.S. citizenship for undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens and their children who have resided in the country for at least 10 years.
- Provide work permits for many more DACA recipients.
What this means:
- Around 500,000 immigrants could be shielded from deporation.
- Around 50,000 young people under 21 whose undocumented parent is married to an American citizen are expected to benefit.
- Qualifying individuals will have three years to apply for permanent residency and can also obtain a three-year work permit.
What comes next:
For our community: We will continue to work with our Affiliates and partners to ensure that all who are eligible can benefit from this relief.
And we urge you to lean on trusted resources! There are already reports of unscrupulous actors trying to take advantage of people. Visit Immigrant Legal Resource Center for trusted legal help in your area.
For policymakers: President Biden has acted. But Congress must take the next step to take up legislation that makes this type of relief permanent.
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