Biden weighs move to unlock legal status for some unauthorized immigrants

President Biden's administration is weighing a far-reaching move that would unlock temporary legal status and potentially a path to American citizenship for hundreds of thousands of immigrants living in the U.S. illegally, five people familiar with the internal discussions told CBS News.

The plan under consideration by the White House would give work permits and deportation protections to certain unauthorized immigrants through the immigration parole authority, as long as they have spouses who are American citizens, the sources said. The policy, known as "parole in place," could also make beneficiaries eligible for permanent U.S. residency and eventually even citizenship, by helping them clear hurdles in U.S. law.

The sources, two current U.S. officials, two former officials and a congressional official, all spoke under condition of anonymity to speak freely about internal plans. They said the final details of the Biden administration's proposal have not been approved or finalized.