President Joe Biden announced on Tuesday a new pathway to citizenship for immigrants married to U.S. nationals, balancing his administration’s recent crackdown on illegal border crossings with a more lenient approach towards legal immigrants.

Facing a contentious issue ahead of the November presidential election, Biden aims to show a tough stance on illegal immigration while distancing himself from former President Donald Trump’s rhetoric of a migrant “invasion.”

Republicans quickly criticized Biden’s move, while immigration reform advocates praised it. The new rules aim to simplify the process for those already eligible for permanent residence by eliminating the requirement to leave the country during their application.

The rules will apply to immigrants who have been in the U.S. for at least ten years and are married to a U.S. citizen by June 17, 2024, potentially affecting about half a million people. Additionally, around 50,000 stepchildren of U.S. citizens will be eligible.

Approved applicants will receive work authorization and the right to stay in the U.S. for up to three years while they apply for a green card, eventually allowing them to apply for full citizenship.

“We are announcing potentially streamlined processes to minimize bureaucracy and the hardship of having to leave the country,” a senior administration official stated. However, another official emphasized that comprehensive reform of immigration and asylum laws can only be delivered by Congress.