When President Joe Biden revealed his extensive plan to grant legal status to spouses of U.S. citizens, many immigrants were overjoyed. However, not everyone qualified for this opportunity.
For Claudia ZĂșniga, who got married in 2017, the new plan did not include her husband. He had to leave the U.S. and live in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, in order to gain legal status after their marriage. This decision drastically changed their lives.
President Biden recently announced that spouses of U.S. citizens without legal status can now apply for permanent residency and citizenship without leaving the country for up to 10 years. This change could benefit around 500,000 immigrants.
To be eligible, immigrants must have lived in the U.S. for 10 years and be married to a U.S. citizen. Unfortunately, ZĂșniga’s husband does not qualify because he was not in the U.S.
ZĂșniga expressed her hope for the future, saying, “My husband could be with us. We could focus on the well-being of our children.”
There are always cutoff dates and eligibility requirements for immigration benefits, including the recent offer by President Biden. For example, nearly 500,000 Venezuelans were granted temporary status until a specified date, leaving out those who arrived after that day.
Another program, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), required applicants to be in the U.S. by a certain date in the past. These limitations apply to many immigrants, including the 1.1 million spouses of U.S. citizens who are in the country illegally.
While some immigrants celebrated Biden’s announcement, critics viewed it as a misguided giveaway. However, many like Angelica Martinez and Brenda Valle felt a mix of emotions during this time of change.
Immigration advocates see this as a positive step, giving hope to families like Magdalena Gutiérrez and Allyson Batista, who have struggled with immigration issues for years.
The recent announcements by President Biden have brought hope to many immigrant families, allowing them to plan for a more secure future in the U.S.
About 50,000 noncitizen children could also potentially benefit from these new regulations, offering a path to stability for more families.
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Gonzalez reported from McAllen, Texas. Associated Press writers Stefanie Dazio in Los Angeles, Melissa Perez Winder in Chicago, and Elliot Spagat in San Diego contributed to this article.
