On Tuesday, President Joe Biden rolled out sweeping new protections for the spouses of U.S. citizens.

He announced a pathway to citizenship for undocumented people who’ve lived in the U.S. for 10 years and are currently married to citizens.

What You Need To Know

  • On Tuesday, President Joe Biden rolled out sweeping new protections for the spouses of U.S. citizens

  • Biden announced sweeping protections from deportation for more than 500,000 people living in the U.S.

  • Make the Road New York is helping undocumented people navigate the new policies

Biden’s executive action is expected to impact 500,000 families nationwide, including families like the Mendozas.

“These eight years being married have been a little rough on us,” Marilyn Mendoza told NY1 Tuesday. “There’s been a lot of uncertainty.”

Mendoza’s husband is undocumented.

In a speech from the White House, Biden said he is focused on keeping families together. This action will allow them to file paperwork for legal status in the U.S. and to work while they remain with their families in the U.S.

Previously, when an undocumented person married an American citizen, they were often required to leave the country in order to apply for residency, with no clear answers on if or when they’d be able to return.

Mendoza told NY1, for the first time in years, she felt a sense of relief.

Biden also announced a pathway to citizenship for 50,000 undocumented children whose parents are married to citizens.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez told NY1 Noticias, “I think it’s important to recognize. This is one of the largest expansions and shifts to address undocumented people since DACA, which is an enormous, enormous, achievement for us to have.”

Several New York lawmakers joined Biden for his announcement, including Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer and Rep. Adriano Espaillat.

“It is family reunification. It is strengthening the family. It is providing help for the young people who came here who were one or two years old and that are Americans, but for one thing, that card,” Espaillat said, praising the immigration policy change.

Meanwhile, in Jackson Heights, Queens, staffers opened the doors at Make the Road New York.

The group shared information and were taking questions on how to navigate the president’s new policy.

“The city, here, maintains a 311 line, where people can call and ask for an appointment with the Action NYC program, which Make the Road is a part of, where people can make a consultation with a trusted attorney,” Harold Solis, a co-legal director with Make the Road New York, said.