In response to mounting pressure from the left, President Biden is reportedly considering a deportation shield for hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants already residing in the United States. This move comes as Biden faces criticism from both Republicans and Democrats on his immigration policies.

Last week, Biden announced an executive order aimed at limiting the ability of illegal immigrants to claim asylum at the southern border. While it received backlash from Republicans who deemed it insufficient, it also sparked anger among liberals and drew condemnation from some Democratic lawmakers. Civil rights groups even threatened to file lawsuits against the order.

President Biden, seeming to anticipate such criticism, indicated there would be more comprehensive measures in the following weeks to make the immigration system "more fair and more just."

Multiple news outlets have revealed that the White House is contemplating a "parole in place" policy specifically for illegal immigrant spouses of U.S. citizens. Parole in place, currently used for family members of U.S. military personnel, protects them from deportation and grants them a work permit. Although details are yet to be disclosed, there are indications that some spouses may even be offered a pathway to citizenship.

The Biden administration has utilized parole provisions to admit over 1,500 individuals daily through ports of entry using the CBP One app. Additionally, it has facilitated the entry of 30,000 individuals per month from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela by employing parole processes.

The potential utilization of parole in place has been rumored for months and has gained support from immigration advocates. FWD.us, an immigration advocacy group, estimates there are approximately 1.1 million spouses of U.S. citizens residing in the country unlawfully. Granting them legal status could reportedly contribute $16 billion to the economy.

Calls for this policy have intensified following Biden's failed attempts to secure comprehensive immigration reform, including a pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants. Despite the bipartisan bill introduced in the Senate earlier this year, the necessary support has not materialized.

However, any expansion of parole provisions is expected to face significant resistance from immigration hawks, who accuse Biden of abusing parole authority and prioritizing illegal immigrants over U.S. citizens. The America First Policy Institute has labeled such a move an "abuse" of parole authority and amnesty for illegal immigrants.

The potential impact of an expanded parole program on the upcoming November election remains uncertain. Recent polling indicates that Biden's handling of the southern border crisis has been met with disapproval from voters. Nevertheless, the Biden campaign may hope that expanding parole provisions could help garner support in key swing states like Arizona and Nevada.

As the Biden administration continues to explore various policy options to address the broken immigration system, the debate surrounding immigration reform is set to intensify further. The decision to implement a deportation shield for illegal immigrants will undoubtedly shape the political landscape and generate both support and opposition in the months to come.