The White House is considering granting deportation relief to more than one million people who entered the US illegally before marrying American citizens. The move is seen as a concession to potential Democratic voters ahead of the Nov. 5 election and would involve potential executive action by President Biden to tighten border security. The administration believes that any backlash over an amnesty order would be tempered by voter sympathy for the couples.
The idea of granting deportation relief to immigrants married to American citizens has been gaining traction since the summer of 2023. There are approximately 1.1 million illegal immigrants married to American citizens who could potentially benefit from this relief. Many “mixed-status” couples have one partner who is ineligible for legal permanent residency due to reasons such as entering the US illegally more than once or using forged legal papers.
Should the White House proceed with the plan, it is likely to implement a “parole in place” program similar to the one that already exists for spouses, parents, or children of active-duty military and veterans. The potential program would only apply to couples where one partner entered the country unlawfully and has been married for a set amount of time, such as five or 10 years. The administration is seeking a way to assist these individuals while addressing concerns about border security.
President Biden has been under pressure to take action on the border, but he is unsure if he has the power to do so through executive action. He has called on Congress to pass a bipartisan bill that includes funding for border security, accusing Republicans of blocking progress. The White House has emphasized that executive action would not be as effective as Congressional funding in addressing the border crisis, which has led to chaos at the US-Mexico frontier.
Republicans have criticized the potential deportation relief plan, arguing that it goes against the Immigration and Nationality Act and that the White House does not have the authority to grant amnesty to those who entered the country illegally. There are concerns about potential fraud in the immigration system and the need to fix existing processes for legal status for immigrant spouses of American citizens. The White House has not yet responded to inquiries about the potential plan.
Polls have shown that immigration is a top issue for voters in the current election cycle, with many Americans expressing concern about the state of border security and the treatment of immigrants. President Biden is facing pressure to address these issues and find effective solutions to secure the border while also providing relief to mixed-status couples. The potential deportation relief plan could have significant implications for immigration policy and the upcoming election.
