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New immigration program offers legal status to immigrant spouses

August 20, 2024
New immigration program offers legal status to immigrant spouses

Certain immigrant wives of US citizens are now able to petition for legal status thanks to a new immigration program that went into effect yesterday, August 19. Spouses without legal status are able to remain in the country and seek for a green card through the June announcement of the Parole in Place program. A few guidelines must be adhered to in order to be eligible for the program. "We're still waiting to see how some of this is going to play out," stated Caitlin Fish of Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA). However, in order to qualify for this program, you had to be in the country before to June 17 of this year, married to a citizen of the United States prior to June 17 of this year, and you couldn't have any kind of criminal record that would have disqualified you. 

Trump has attacked Harris for the highest number of people apprehended attempting to enter the country illegally since she and Biden entered office in 2021. In response, Harris has emphasised both her own law enforcement background and Trump's opposition to a bipartisan border security package that was stalled earlier this year in the U.S. Senate.Trump has attacked Harris for the highest number of people apprehended attempting to enter the country illegally since she and Biden entered office in 2021. In response, Harris has emphasised both her own law enforcement background and Trump's opposition to a bipartisan border security package that was stalled earlier this year in the U.S. Senate.

Harris has called for an earned pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants in the US. Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt labeled the citizenship program a "mass amnesty" and reiterated Trump's pledge to deport historic numbers of immigrants if reelected. Keeping Families Together allows qualifying spouses to apply for permanent residence without leaving the US, allowing them to apply for citizenship in three years. The program faces Republican-led legal challenges.