Insights into new executive order on immigration

President Joe Biden recently signed an executive order regarding specific undocumented immigrants. These include immigrant spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens. They will be able to apply for lawful permanent residency without leaving the country.

This executive order is the most prominent immigration move since the beginning of DACA.

Mario Montoya, Research Analyst and Coalition Consultant at Aliento, joined “Arizona Horizon” to provide insight on this executive order.

There are some challenges that the undocumented immigrants face when trying to leave the country and re-enter the United States. 

“There was an executive action announced this past Tuesday. Ultimately what this would do would take pathways that are already available to this demographic. I believe the administration said that this would impact around 550,000 individuals that are married to a U.S. citizen so a spouse that’s undocumented and their undocumented children… what this would do ultimately right now how the process stands if you want to get a green card or receive a lawful permit status…they faced up to a 10 year bar of being able to be allowed in,” said Montoya. 

The new order would allow immigrants to apply without leaving, so they don’t have to separate from their families. 

It is required that immigrants must live in the United States for 10 years and must be married to the U.S. citizen on Monday. 

“Since the June 17, 2024 you must have been married to the U.S. citizen as well as continuously present in the U.S. for a minimum of 10 years since that date,” said Montoya. 

Immigrants are also required to have a clean criminal background to continue the process. 

“If you have a criminal record you won’t be eligible to do this. It’s for individuals that are otherwise already eligible to apply to these pathways. The only thing that it’s doing is streamlining the process and keeping families together so they don’t have to leave the U.S.,” said Montoya.