The Blubber

President Joe Biden is expected to announce a new executive action as early as next week to protect certain undocumented immigrants from deportation, according to five sources familiar with the White House’s plans.

The action is anticipated to shield undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens from deportation and allow them to work legally in the country. The program might also offer a more streamlined pathway to U.S. citizenship.

Biden is expected to make the announcement Tuesday at a planned White House event commemorating the 12th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which protected over 800,000 children brought to the U.S. from deportation.

A White House official noted that no final decisions have been made regarding additional executive actions. White House spokesperson Angelo Fernández Hernández stated that the administration “continues to explore a series of policy options and we remain committed to taking action to address our broken immigration system.”

If implemented, it is unclear how many undocumented spouses would receive protections, but some lawmakers and immigration advocates estimate it could affect up to 1.1 million people. However, sources with knowledge of the White House’s plans told PBS NewsHour that they expect the scope of these protections to be much narrower.

The White House has been reviewing a program known as “parole in place,” which would allow individuals to adjust their status without leaving the country, enabling them to obtain a work permit and a green card.

The protections for undocumented spouses could come roughly two weeks after Biden issued a separate executive action temporarily banning asylum-seekers from entering the country between ports of entry.

The president hinted at such an action last week when announcing the crackdown on asylum. “For those who say the steps I’ve taken are too strict, I say to you ... be patient,” Biden said. “In the weeks ahead — and I mean the weeks ahead — I will speak to how we can make our immigration system more fair and more just.”