Some of our readers may have heard about the new Keeping Families Together program announced this summer by President Joe Biden. It’s essentially an expansion of a program called Parole in Place (PIP) available to qualifying undocumented spouses and stepchildren of military personnel.
The Keeping Families Together program will allow hundreds of thousands of undocumented people who have been married to U.S. citizen spouses for at least ten years to qualify for permanent legal residency and a green card without having to return to and remain in their home country for at least ten years before re-entering the U.S.
How the program can help people come out of the shadows
That requirement, which just isn’t feasible for many people who have built a home and family here, is what has kept so many undocumented spouses living in the shadows, with limited employment, education and other opportunities. Further, they’re at risk of deportation.
Those who qualify for the program can get legal work permits and be able to live openly while their green card application is being processed. It’s estimated that about a half million spouses and approximately 50,000 stepchildren of U.S. citizens qualify for the program.
Sixteen states have filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration
Unfortunately, as with so many things, politics can get in the way. Sixteen states (mostly in the South and Midwest), including Florida, have filed a lawsuit against the administration to stop the program.
The attorneys general in those states argue that the program is unconstitutional, rewards those who came here illegally and worsens the country’s immigration problem. Arguments in the case are scheduled to begin in October. Until the case can be decided in court, the program has been paused.
If your family is one of those left in limbo while the courts decide whether the program can move forward, it’s important to know and protect your rights. If you have questions or concerns, it helps to have experienced legal guidance.