The president announced that his administration will, in the coming months, allow certain US citizens’ spouses without legal status to apply for permanent residency and eventually citizenship without having to first depart the country.

Under the plan, undocumented immigrants who have resided in the US for 10 or more years, as of 17 June, and are legally married to a US citizen will be newly eligible to pursue legal status while living and working in the US. Couples do not need to have been married for any specific amount of time, but only those who meet the requirements as of Monday are eligible.

The action by Biden, a Democrat, could affect upwards of half a million immigrants, according to senior administration officials.