Amor Vincit Omnia. Or so the saying goes. But it doesn't always turn out this way if love leads to marriage in the U.S. between a citizen and an undocumented person.
The latter, more often than not, would have to leave the U.S. for ten years before having a chance of securing a green card through his or her citizen spouse.
Enter President Biden, who a few days ago signed into effect new rules that will offer a path to legalization for an estimated 500,000 people who are in the country illegally - even though they are married to American citizens. An estimated 50,000 individuals under the age of 21 will also benefit.
Those without legal papers will have to show at least ten years of U.S. residency in order to qualify. A great many have likely been in the U.S. a lot longer than a decade. Under the new plan the spouses and children of citizens will be able to apply for permanent residence without leaving the U.S. Once a green card is obtained, the road is open to future citizenship.
Individuals with criminal records or anyone considered a national security threat will not be eligible.
Biden's move has been compared to President Barack Obama's DACA (Deferred Action Childhood Arrival) legislation of 2012, a moral and humane initiative which, disgracefully, has been bogged down in the political mire and the courts for years.
President Biden's action also ranks as humane. But immigration is an issue where the humane is often pushed to the rear when it comes to implementing the rules, old and new.
Still, at least something has now been done in the context of an overall immigration system that most consider broken, even if they disagree on how to fix it.
Reports indicate that the great majority of those who will benefit from Biden's action will be Mexican American/Mexican families.
There will be others from different backgrounds who will benefit too. Perhaps even some Irish. We shall have an idea as matters develop in the months ahead.
