If you have a “mixed-status” marriage and family, there’s important news from the federal government. President Biden recently announced that he is expanding the Parole in Place program to include non-military families.
The program allows unauthorized immigrants who have married a U.S. citizen and been in the U.S. continuously for at least ten years to be able to obtain a green card and legal resident status without having to return to their home country first. It’s been in place for military spouses for a number of years.
This expansion of the program will allow about a half million more spouses to obtain green cards and eventually apply for U.S. citizenship. It will also allow about 50,000 stepchildren under 21 of U.S. citizens to remain in the country legally. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), most spouses who qualify for Parole in Place have been here for more than 20 years.
Letting unauthorized spouses live and work more openly
Many undocumented spouses of citizens have chosen to remain in the shadows rather than seek a green card because they would be required to leave the U.S. for a minimum of ten years before they could return and legally apply for one. Obviously, that’s not an option that many people want to consider.
By remaining in the U.S. unauthorized, however, they run the constant risk of deportation. They also have limited access to jobs, health care, education and more. In announcing the expansion of Parole in Place, President Joe Biden said that those who apply and qualify for the program will be allowed to get work permits and be protected from deportation due to their status.
The expansion of the program is planned for the fall of this year when applications will become available. This is an important step in allowing families to remain together.
It’s important to remember, however, that programs like these are dependent on leaders in Washington and in the states being committed to them. There are no guarantees of whether or how long it will continue. For the moment, however, it’s good news. It’s smart to find out more and to get experienced legal guidance.