Department of Homeland Security officials today announced a temporary reprieve for immigrant widows targeted for deportation because their immigration status was not resolved before their spouses died.

The decision is important for the surviving spouses of U.S. citizens who die before they have been married two years, which is the threshold under federal law to apply for a green card. This decision will also cover the widower's unmarried children who are younger than 18 years old.

DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano described her written directive as a "short-term arrangement” which is basically a suspension of removal proceedings -- for a period of two years, which will allow the spouses and their children to live and work legally in the U.S.