In a significant move that could benefit hundreds of thousands of people, the Biden administration announced on Tuesday an executive action allowing certain undocumented spouses and children of US citizens to apply for lawful permanent residency without having to leave the country. This action aims to provide legal status and protections for approximately 500,000 American families and approximately 50,000 noncitizen children of immigrants under the age of 21 whose parent is married to a US citizen.

The executive action, which is one of the largest relief programs for undocumented immigrants since the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program was introduced in 2012, seeks to appeal to key Latino constituencies in battleground states such as Arizona, Nevada, and Georgia. These states are crucial for President Biden's chances of securing a second term.

With this move, the Biden administration seeks to mend fences with immigration advocates and progressives who have criticized the President for previous restrictive actions, including measures to limit asylum processing at the US southern border. The action also marks a stark departure from the controversial policies implemented by former President Donald Trump, with Biden emphasizing his commitment to keeping families together instead of separating them.

Under current federal law, undocumented individuals who enter the US and marry a US citizen must first request parole before applying for legal residency. This process requires them to leave the country if they were there illegally, causing disruptions to their careers and families and creating uncertainty about reentry authorization. However, Tuesday's action allows these spouses to apply for residency without leaving the United States, thereby ensuring family unity.

To be eligible for the program, individuals must have resided in the United States for at least 10 years and be legally married to a US citizen. The application process is expected to open by the end of the summer. Lawful permanent residency, commonly known as obtaining a green card, enables immigrants to live and work legally in the United States, although green card holders cannot vote in federal US elections.

While Tuesday's executive action is already facing legal challenges, the White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, expressed confidence that the action falls "squarely within our legal authorities." Despite potential hurdles, immigration advocacy groups have welcomed the news, with FWD.us, an immigration advocacy group, urging the President to act boldly to protect those affected by the country's broken immigration laws.

Experts note that this change in status could impact up to 550,000 individuals and have a substantial economic benefit, as it allows affected individuals to seek higher-wage jobs, effectively freeing them from the constraints of the informal economy. However, leading Senate Republicans have criticized the administration's immigration action, accusing it of creating more incentives for illegal immigration.

The executive action is expected to be a topic of discussion in upcoming debates between President Biden and former President Donald Trump, who is widely anticipated to be his 2024 rival. As the immigration debate continues, the President identified the importance of families and vowed to make the immigration system fairer and more just in the weeks ahead.

The Biden administration's latest move reflects its commitment to pursuing a more inclusive and humane approach to immigration and underscores the President's desire to unite families torn apart by previous policies. As the legal challenges unfold and Congress examines potential bipartisan solutions, the future of immigration policy in the United States remains in the spotlight.