NEW YORK (PIX11) -- On the 12th Anniversary of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, which protects people who came to the United States as children from deportation, President Joe Biden announced today significant presidential action to protect undocumented immigrants who have been living in the United States for many years.

The goal is to keep families together in the United States instead of separating while navigating legal status or because of deportation.

“I just texted him, ‘Look what’s going on, I think we have something,’ and he was like, ‘Well, I won’t believe it until I see it,’” Marilin Mendoza said.

That’s how Mendoza broke down the news to her husband on Biden's new immigration announcement on Tuesday morning.

Under the new policy, undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens who have lived here for 10 years will be protected from deportation, given a pathway to citizenship and the ability to work legally in the United States.

“I felt a sense of peace. There is always that chance that he might get deported at any time,” she said.

Marilin and Jose Luis got married eight years ago and have a three-year-old son. She was born in Queens, and he crossed the southern border into the United States 15 years ago.

“I thought we would get married, and in less than six months, his status would be adjusted, but it has not worked out like that. There are a lot of challenges with the immigration system, the backlogs, how to prove that you have a valid marriage and can provide to a family,” she added.

Mendoza’s husband works as a chef; he is among the 500,000 undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens who will benefit from this new policy.

The organization Make the Road to New York told PIX11 News that it has been fighting for Biden's move, especially after the president's steps to limit asylum processing at the southern border.

“We know that New York is a state that welcomes immigrants. They contribute billions of dollars to the state and city economy, and this opens up the ability to stay with their families,” said Make the Road to New York spokesperson Yatziri Tovar.

The program, which is expected to launch by the end of the summer, will also benefit about 50,000 children of undocumented spouses who became stepchildren to American citizens.