United States Vice President Joe Biden announced a plan by the government to grant refugee status to people in Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador under the age of 21, whose parents are legal residents in the U.S.

The plan allows a safer legal alternative to the dangerous journey that many Central American children have taken to reunite with their parents up north.

Like Us on Facebook

The vice president announced the plan Friday night at the Inter-American Development Bank, as the presidents of the three countries prepare to present a plan to stem child migration from their countries.

Under the plan, parents can request the U.S. government to grant refugee status to their children in the Central American countries. The program will not apply to children who have arrived illegally in the U.S.

Children granted refugee status under the program may work legally upon arrival in the U.S., apply for permanent residency after one year, and may opt for naturalization five years later. U.S. officials did not say how long the granting of refugee status may take. 

Each year, 4,000 people from South America are granted refugee status. Children from the three countries who meet requirements will be part of this quota, now currently filled mostly by Cubans and Colombians. 

The vice president's announcement came as President Barack Obama prepares to unveil a package of executive actions on immigration. White House advocates say these actions will effectively protect from deportation an estimated 5 million immigrants that are in the country illegally. 

Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, warned the series of actions will result into a surge of unwanted immigrants at the U.S. borders.

"The policy announced today could open Pandora's box, allowing potentially even more people to come to the United States," Goodlatte said in a press statement. 

The U.S. government will encourage the three countries to do their part in the success of the new refugee program.

TagsJoe Biden, immigration, Barack Obama, Refugee Status