Biden Administration Weighing Plan to Grant Legal Status to Undocumented Immigrants Living in the U.S.

President Biden’s administration is considering a groundbreaking move that could potentially grant temporary legal status and a path to American citizenship for hundreds of thousands of immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. The plan, known as “parole in place,” would provide work permits and deportation protections to certain unauthorized immigrants with American citizen spouses, allowing them to eventually apply for permanent residency and citizenship.

The proposal, which has not yet been finalized, aims to benefit longtime undocumented immigrants who have been living in the U.S. for years. If approved, it could have a significant impact on the estimated 11 million unauthorized immigrants currently residing in the country, particularly the 1.1 million with U.S. citizen spouses.

While the plan could face legal challenges, the Biden administration has already used the immigration parole authority to resettle migrants and refugees from various regions. If implemented, parole in place would allow undocumented spouses of American citizens to obtain temporary work permits and legal status, bypassing certain barriers in U.S. immigration law.

This move by the Biden administration comes as part of a broader effort to address the broken immigration system and could potentially energize Latino voters ahead of the upcoming election. While the plan is still under consideration, it represents a significant step towards providing relief to undocumented immigrants and their families in the U.S.