Court Temporarily Blocks Biden’s Immigration Policy For Spouses Of U.S. Citizens

A federal judge in Texas has issued a temporary halt to a key immigration policy introduced by President Joe Biden, which aimed to simplify the process for spouses of U.S. citizens to gain legal status.

This decision represents a significant setback for one of the administration’s major immigration reform efforts.

According to AFP, Judge J. Campbell Barker granted a 14-day administrative stay in response to a lawsuit filed by Republican attorneys general from 16 states.

These states are challenging the Biden administration’s policy, which was unveiled in June and sought to streamline the path to citizenship for an estimated 500,000 immigrants married to U.S. citizens.

The suing states argue that the policy is burdening them with millions of dollars in costs for public services, such as healthcare, education, and law enforcement, that are being used by the affected immigrants.

Judge Barker emphasized the seriousness of the claims, stating, “The claims are substantial and warrant closer consideration than the court has been able to afford to date.”

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, one of the leading figures in the case, celebrated the ruling, stating on social media, “This is just the first step. We are going to keep fighting for Texas, our country, and the rule of law.”

The Biden administration has faced challenges in addressing immigration, a contentious issue as the country approaches the upcoming presidential election, where Vice President Kamala Harris will compete against Republican candidate Donald Trump.

The administration is trying to balance stricter measures against illegal immigration with reforms to the current immigration system.

The blocked policy was designed to expedite the legal residency process for those who have already lived in the U.S. for at least 10 years and are married to a U.S. citizen as of June 17, 2024.

It also extended to approximately 50,000 stepchildren of U.S. citizens. Under the policy, those approved would receive work authorization and the right to remain in the U.S. for up to three years while applying for a green card.

The court’s ruling suspends the “parole in place” status but does not prevent the government from continuing to accept applications for this status. U.S.

Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) confirmed that it would continue processing applications but would not approve any until the stay is lifted.

In response to the ruling, the immigrant advocacy group Justice Action Center called the court’s order an “extreme measure,” arguing that Texas has not provided sufficient evidence to justify the halt.

Karen Tumlin, the group’s founder, expressed concern for the impacted families, saying, “This is heartbreaking for our clients and the thousands of couples who hope to benefit from this process and be able to live without fear that their family will be separated.”

The Justice Action Center has filed a motion to intervene in the lawsuit to defend the program.

Judge Barker noted that the stay is temporary and the court has not made any final determinations regarding the merits of the case.

The court has scheduled an expedited hearing but indicated that the stay could be extended while the case proceeds.