U.S. President Joe Biden’s recent immigration policy announcement has provided relief for Americans with undocumented spouses.
The new plan offers a path to citizenship for immigrants who entered the country illegally and are married to U.S. citizens, allowing them to legalize their status without leaving the United States.
Pennsylvania-based immigration lawyer Bridget Cambria expressed her joy at the news. Over the years, she had informed many couples of the difficult process for the immigrant spouse to gain U.S. legal permanent residency, which often involved leaving the country and enduring years of separation.
“When I called them, it was nice to tell them something happy for once,” Cambria said. “Some of them cried, most of them were just in disbelief or shock.”
Biden’s policy could affect hundreds of thousands of families, easing their fears of separation and providing a more stable future. This policy shift is also a strategic political move in an election year, as Biden aims to balance border enforcement with a humane approach to immigration.
One of the couples benefiting from the policy is Carmen Miranda, 56, and her husband Francisco Cortez, 52, of Reading, Pennsylvania. Cortez, who entered the U.S. illegally in 1987, supports Miranda, who has multiple sclerosis and dwarfism. Miranda expressed her excitement and relief at the news, stating, “We waited and waited for so, so long.”
Another beneficiary, Genaro Vicencio, 24, who crossed the border from Mexico at age 10, shared his relief. Vicencio, who has a 6-year-old son with his American wife Cindy Maduena, has lived in constant fear of being separated from his family. “Every morning I had to wake up and think about that. This is a huge stress reliever,” he said.
Biden, who is seeking re-election, faces challenges with high levels of illegal immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border. His Republican opponent, Donald Trump, has criticized Biden’s immigration policies and emphasized a hardline stance. Recent polls indicate that registered voters prefer Trump over Biden on immigration by a 17 percentage point margin.
