Hope and Despair: New Policy for Spouses of US Citizens

The Biden administration has opened registration for 500,000 spouses of US citizens to gain legal status without leaving the country for 10 years. The policy aims to bring relief to families but leaves those who left voluntarily in despair. Debate continues over its generosity and eligibility criteria.

On Monday, registration opened for an estimated 500,000 spouses of US citizens to gain legal status without needing to leave the country. This new policy is one of the most significant measures for easing immigrant entry since 2012's DACA program.

However, the policy leaves many, like Karen Chavarria, in despair. Karen voluntarily left the United States in 2017, hoping to reunite with her husband Xavier after fulfilling separate legal requirements. She now faces agonizing choices and feels disheartened by the limited applicability of the new policy.

Advocates express concerns about the exclusion of those who left voluntarily, while opponents deem the policy overly generous. The Biden administration estimates 500,000 spouses and 50,000 stepchildren could benefit, yet controversies persist over fairness and eligibility criteria.

(With inputs from agencies.)