A new Biden administration immigration program launching Monday will provide legal status to some immigrant spouses of U.S. citizens and provide them a pathway to citizenship.
Under the policy, which President Joe Biden announced in June, many spouses without legal status will be able to apply for something called “Parole in Place,” offering permission to stay in the U.S. and apply for a green card.
The Department of Homeland Security estimates half a million noncitizen spouses and around 50,000 children will be eligible for the program.
While the new program offers a rare opportunity to erase the threat of deportation, there’s concern over whether the program will face legal challenges and if it will survive the presidential election.