Opinion: Biden’s very smart move on immigration

Editor’s Note: Jill Filipovic is a journalist based in New York and author of the book “OK Boomer, Let’s Talk: How My Generation Got Left Behind.” Follow her on Twitter. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely her own. View more opinion on CNN.

CNN — This week, the Biden administration announced a common-sense immigration measure that will help to strengthen and stabilize American families: An executive action that allows undocumented spouses of US citizens who have been living in the country for more than a decade to stay in the US as they apply for permanent residency.

Previously, undocumented spouses and kids had to leave the US and then apply for residency, which takes a parent out of a home, out of a job, out of a community, and out of an entire family system.

These new protections would also extend to the children of the qualifying undocumented immigrants, who are stepchildren of US citizens.

By any definition, this policy is pro-family and pro-child. And it doesn’t increase immigration, as it only applies to people who are already in the country and have been for many years — roughly 500,000 adults and some 50,000 children, all of whom are currently living in limbo.

It’s basic and humane: Imagine the stress of knowing your spouse of many years, and perhaps the parent of your child, could be picked up and deported in an instant — along, even, with your stepchild.

And so of course many “pro-family” Republicans are criticizing the action, even after they torpedoed a restrictive and bipartisan immigration bill that offered them a slew of concessions earlier this year.

The Biden administration is in a tough spot on immigration, in a tough election year.