The White House is considering providing deportation relief to over one million people who entered the US illegally before marrying American citizens. This potential move is seen as a concession to Democratic voters in anticipation of the upcoming election. The administration believes that any backlash over an amnesty order would be softened by voter sympathy for the affected couples. While a final decision has not been made, the idea has been gaining traction since the summer of 2023. According to the immigration advocacy group Fwd.us, around 1.1 million illegal immigrants are married to American citizens.
Many “mixed-status” couples face challenges in obtaining legal permanent residency due to various reasons, such as entering the US illegally more than once or using forged legal papers. If the White House moves forward with its plan, it may implement a “parole in place” program, similar to one that already exists for spouses, parents, or children of active-duty military and veterans. The potential order is expected to only apply to couples who entered the country unlawfully and have been married for a set amount of time, such as five or 10 years. President Biden has been under pressure to act on border security, with Congress being called upon to pass a bipartisan bill including funding for border security.
Biden has expressed uncertainty about his ability to push out an executive action to crack down on border crossings. The White House has emphasized the need for Congressional funding for significant policy reforms and additional resources at the border. Some Republicans argue that Biden has the necessary powers to secure the border but chooses not to utilize them. Critics of potential deportation relief for mixed-status couples argue that there are already established processes for immigrant spouses of American citizens to obtain legal status and that granting amnesty could contribute to fraud within the immigration system.
The White House has not yet responded to inquiries about the potential deportation relief. Immigration has consistently been a top issue for voters in this election cycle, with polls indicating that it is the most important question behind the economy. The administration is under pressure to address border security issues and has been calling for Congressional action to provide funding for border security. Critics of potential deportation relief argue that existing processes for immigrant spouses of American citizens should be improved to address fraud issues within the immigration system.
