Minister of Foreign Affairs Senator Kamina Johnson Smith has welcomed the United States’ announcement of a new policy that would protect hundreds of thousands of undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens from deportation.

According to the BBC, the new policy will apply to those who have been in the country for at least 10 years and will allow them to work in the U.S. legally.

The White House believes more than 500,000 spouses will be eligible.

Responding to questions, during this morning’s Post Cabinet press briefing, held at the 10th Biennial Diaspora Conference in Montego Bay St. James, Mrs. Johnson Smith said “this is a positive development.”

She is urging Jamaicans in the U.S. to seek legal guidance before trying to benefit from the policy.