Advocates in Michigan call Biden’s change in immigration policy “overdue”

Advocates for undocumented immigrants in Michigan are praising a change in federal policy affecting immigrants married to U.S. citizens.

The Biden administration will allow certain spouses of undocumented U.S. citizens to apply for permanent residency and eventually citizenship.

“This moment is long overdue,” said Adonis Flores of Michigan United. “We are here to celebrate a small victory for our families. But much more needs to be done.”

To qualify, an immigrant must have lived in the United States for 10 years as of Monday and be married to a U.S. citizen. If a qualified immigrant’s application is approved, he or she will have three years to apply for a green card and obtain temporary work authorization. In the meantime, he or she will be protected from deportation.

Supporters say the policy change could directly affect 50,000 Michigan residents.

Vero Silva said her family had been affected by the deportation of their family members in the past.

“Every time our loved ones leave home, we fear they won’t come back,” Silva said. “They could be arrested and deported, leaving behind broken families.”

The president’s actions are being criticized by Republicans.

“Michigan is begging for more border security, but Joe Biden (and Democrats in Congress) still refuse to act on illegal immigration,” said Mike Marinella, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee. “While Republicans are presenting solutions for border security … Democrats still refuse to take the border crisis seriously.”

Tuesday’s announcement came two weeks after Biden announced a sweeping crackdown on the U.S.-Mexico border that effectively halted asylum claims from people arriving between officially designated crossings. Immigrant rights groups have sued the Biden administration over that order, which a senior administration official said Monday resulted in fewer border encounters between ports.