US President Joe Biden is set to unveil a new policy aimed at protecting hundreds of thousands of undocumented spouses of US citizens from deportation.

Also Read: Roya exposé reveals methods of smuggling Jordanian youth to US

According to administration officials, this initiative will apply to those who have lived in the country for at least 10 years, enabling them to work legally in the US.

The White House estimates that more than 500,000 spouses of US citizens will benefit from this new policy, along with 50,000 young people under 21 whose parent is married to an American citizen.

Senior administration officials clarified that eligible individuals will have three years to apply for permanent residency and will receive a three-year work permit.

The administration believes that on average, those eligible have been in the US for 23 years, with a majority being born in Mexico. They will be "paroled in place," allowing them to stay in the US while their status is adjusted.

The application process is expected to open by the end of summer, according to a senior administration official.

In addition, the White House plans to streamline the visa process for highly skilled undocumented immigrants who hold degrees from US universities or have job offers in their field.

Also Read: US, Canada strike deal on illegal migration during Biden trip

This announcement follows a recent executive order from Biden that permits U.S. officials to swiftly remove migrants entering the country illegally without processing their asylum requests once a daily threshold is met and the border becomes "overwhelmed."