Cecilia sat before her computer, frequently refreshing the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services webpage on Monday, hoping to see the application for the Biden administration’s “Keeping Families Together” programme. Minutes later, she clicked on the form and submitted it in under 20 minutes.
Over 24 hours later, she received an email with news she had awaited for two decades. “I saw I got approved, and I was like, oh that was quick,” she told ABC News. “I was speechless… a mix of emotions overwhelmed me.”
Cecilia, who requested a news agency not reveal her full name to freely share her immigration status, is one of the first to receive parole in place, a temporary relief from deportation. This new programme allows undocumented spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens to apply for permanent legal residence without leaving the country.
#ThankYouPresidentBiden #ThankYouJoeBiden
Biden administration starts ‘Keeping Families Together’ program https://t.co/P7NwNNsTtQ
— We Fight We Win 2024. (@Rhon831) August 20, 2024
Current laws allow noncitizen spouses to obtain legal status, but often they must apply from their home countries, facing up to a 10-year ban from returning to the U.S. On June 18, President Joe Biden announced an executive action introducing the programme, describing it as a “commonsense fix” to keep families united.
“This action is a better way. It keeps families together while ensuring every undocumented spouse meets their legal obligations,” Biden said. The Department of Homeland Security estimates that half a million noncitizen spouses and 50,000 children might benefit from the programme.
To qualify, applicants must be unlawfully in the country, pass background checks, prove they’ve lived in the U.S. for at least a decade, and be married to a U.S. citizen by June 17, 2024. Some noncitizen stepchildren under 21 are also eligible.
Cecilia’s family brought her to the U.S. from Mexico when she was four. After failing to secure Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status, which remains paused amid ongoing legal battles, she feared her dream of becoming a chemist was over. Her parents struggled to pay out-of-state tuition fees due to her status.
In 2018, she met her future husband, who was studying biology at the same school. “I didn’t initially tell him about my status because I worried he wouldn’t like me because I’m undocumented,” she said. However, her husband was very supportive despite her status. He helped her through school while they raised their three-year-old. He was working when she shared her approval news.
“He was like, ‘Are you serious?’” she recalled. They celebrated as soon as he got home. “We always celebrate small moments because we never know what might happen. Staying united as a family is important,” she said. Cecilia learned about the new policy from American Families United, a non-profit advocating for legal pathways to citizenship for foreign nationals married to U.S. citizens.
“American families like Cecilia’s have faced years of uncertainty, hoping to live without fear,” said Ashley DeAzevedo, president of American Families United. “The quick approval of Cecilia’s application is encouraging—she is American in every meaningful way. Now, she can contribute even more to her family and the nation she calls home.” Cecilia believes her case was expedited because she had already submitted biometrics and other information for her DACA application.
A USCIS official stated that the agency might prioritise applicants with other pending applications and accurate biographic data. Cecilia has applied for her work permit and plans to seek lawful permanent residence as soon as possible, finally leaving the uncertainty of her undocumented status behind. Owning a home, starting her career, and raising her child with her husband now seem achievable.
She encourages other undocumented immigrants to stay hopeful. “People should remain hopeful and know there are advocates for them,” she said. “Everyone deserves a second chance.”
What Other Media Are Saying
- Sahan Journal reports that a Biden order could streamline the path to citizenship for thousands of undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens in Minnesota, alleviating the risk of family separation.(read more)
- C-SPAN provides an overview of President Biden’s new immigration policy, announcing a pathway to citizenship for about 500,000 undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens, promoting family unity and strengthening the U.S. economy.(read more)
- CNN reports that President Biden’s executive order aims to speed up processing of asylum-seekers at the U.S.-Canada border, reversing a months-long downward trend in unauthorized crossings.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What is the ‘Keeping Families Together’ program?
It’s a new program allowing undocumented spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens to apply for permanent residence without leaving the country.
Who qualifies for the ‘Keeping Families Together’ program?
Applicants must be in the U.S. unlawfully, pass background checks, have lived in the U.S. for at least a decade, and be married to a U.S. citizen.
How quickly can applications be approved under this program?
Applications can be approved in just over 24 hours, as seen in Cecilia’s case.
How many people could benefit from this program?
An estimated half a million noncitizen spouses and 50,000 children could benefit.
What should other undocumented immigrants do according to Cecilia?
Cecilia urges undocumented immigrants to remain hopeful and believe that there are people advocating for them.