Watch: President Biden announces new immigration rule at DACA event

Thousands of immigrants who are married to U.S. citizens but are in the country illegally would be protected from deportation and would be allowed to work while they seek permanent legal status under a sweeping new government program to be announced Tuesday.

The program, which President Joe Biden will unveil during an immigration event at the White House, would allow undocumented spouses and their children to apply for permanent resident status without leaving the country – but only if they meet certain criteria.

To be eligible, immigrants must have resided in the United States for 10 years or more as of June 17, 2024, and be legally married to a U.S. citizen by that date. They cannot have been paroled and cannot pose a threat to public safety and national security. On average, those who are eligible for the program have resided in the United States for 23 years, officials said.

Under current law, many migrants seeking legal status must first depart the United States and wait to be processed abroad, which can take years.