Biden Launches Pathway to Citizenship for Immigrant Spouses of U.S. Citizens

President Joe Biden is set to launch a new program on Monday aimed at providing a path to citizenship for immigrant spouses of U.S. citizens who have lived in the country for at least 10 years. The initiative, called "Keeping Families Together," is one of the administration's most significant efforts to grant legal status to long-term U.S. residents who entered the country illegally.

Miguel Aleman, a 39-year-old brought to the U.S. from Mexico at age 4, is among the hundreds of thousands of immigrants hopeful that this program will offer them a chance at citizenship. Aleman, who has two young children with his U.S.-citizen wife and works as an Uber driver, would otherwise face the prospect of relocating to Mexico, possibly for a decade or longer, before being allowed to return legally.

"Keeping Families Together," announced in June, is expected to benefit an estimated 500,000 spouses and 50,000 children under the age of 21 with a U.S.-citizen parent. The program allows qualifying spouses to apply for permanent residence without having to leave the United States, a requirement that would otherwise force many to spend years abroad before being permitted to return. Once granted permanent residence, also known as a green card, these individuals can apply for citizenship in three years.

The program, unveiled by Biden shortly before he withdrew from the presidential race in July, is likely to face legal challenges from Republicans, who have criticized the initiative as "mass amnesty." Former President Donald Trump, Biden's opponent in the upcoming election, has pledged to deport historic numbers of immigrants if reelected.

Vice President Kamala Harris, now the Democratic presidential candidate, has defended the program and called for "an earned pathway to citizenship" for immigrants. Harris, who will formally accept the Democratic nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Thursday, has highlighted her enforcement record in response to criticism from Trump.

Aleman, who is currently enrolled in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, hopes to secure permanent status through "Keeping Families Together." DACA, which offers deportation relief and work permits to immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, was launched by President Barack Obama in 2012, with Biden serving as vice president. Although Trump attempted to end DACA during his presidency, the Supreme Court blocked his efforts, and the program continues to face legal challenges from Republican-led states.

"I want to keep contributing to this country," Aleman said, expressing his hope for a stable future through the new program.