Just a few years ago, im pretty sure you had to get married, they had to go out of country and file the residency paperwork, and then wait until they could be issued a permanent residency. If they stay married and lived in the country for at least 3 years (i think they could spend some time away) , they could file to become a citizen. The residency process took about 6 months.
Biden made it so if the spouse was already in the country, and overstayed thier original travelers / residency / student / whatever visa, or just entered the country illegally, they could apply for the permanent residency without having to leave.
Okay, thanks for the clarification. I guess I can see the merit in both systems. Like obviously it's more humane to just let them stay, and government bureaucracy rarely works as it should. On the other hand, having a loosey goosey permissive policy seems like it would surely encourage more illegal immigration. But the whole argument against immigration made by the right is so two-faced. They're the ones hiring people without documentation so they can shave operating costs at the cost of human exploitation. I think a better system would be to severely punish employers who hire undocumented workers.
From what i understand it applies to people who entered illegally - maybe before marriage? Now you're not entitled to a green card unless you leave the country, serve your penance, and reapply.
I guess it closes a loophole, but to my understanding, more Mexicans have been leaving the country than arriving over the last decade. Perhaps that has changed since Biden took over.
They're goading you - trying to get you to call immigrants Mexicans so they can call you racist. Mexican immigrants are the largest group at the southern border, but still well below half of all who enter/attempt to enter there.