Texas Judge Blocks Biden Administration’s Program to Legalize Illegal Immigrants Married to U.S. Citizens
A federal judge in Texas has invalidated the Biden administration’s “Keeping Families Together” program, which aimed to provide protection from deportation to illegal immigrants married to U.S. citizens. U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker ruled that the program exceeded Biden’s executive authority and was unlawful. This decision came after a legal challenge brought by Texas and a coalition of U.S. states with Republican attorneys general.
The Program’s Legal Battle
The “Keeping Families Together” program was launched in August but was quickly blocked by Judge Barker. The program remained frozen while the judge considered the legal challenge. The coalition of states argued that the program violated federal law, which prohibits illegal immigrants from obtaining immigration benefits without first leaving the country and being readmitted. They claimed that the program would allow more than 1.3 million illegal immigrants to benefit, while the administration estimated around 500,000 immigrants would be impacted, along with approximately 50,000 children.
A Victory for the States
The coalition of states, led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, hailed the judge’s decision as a victory in their fight against the Biden administration’s immigration policies. They argued that the program would have granted amnesty to hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens and set the stage for the largest administrative amnesty in American history. The states asserted that they had taken legal action to protect their communities from the consequences of the administration’s failure to address the crisis at the southern border.
Department of Homeland Security’s Response
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the White House have not yet responded to the judge’s ruling. In a previous statement, DHS vowed to defend the policy in court, stating that “Keeping Families Together” was grounded in well-established legal authority and aligned with fundamental American values. The White House also defended the policy, accusing Republican officials of prioritizing politics over helping American families or fixing the broken immigration system.
The Impact and Next Steps
The ruling means that the Biden administration cannot proceed with the “Keeping Families Together” program as planned. It remains to be seen whether the administration will appeal the judge’s decision or pursue alternative solutions to address the situation of illegal immigrants married to U.S. citizens. The lawsuit was filed by 16 states, including Texas, Alabama, Florida, Missouri, and South Carolina, among others.
Conclusion
The Texas judge’s ruling marks a setback for the Biden administration’s efforts to implement immigration policies aimed at providing relief for certain groups of undocumented immigrants. The decision highlights the ongoing legal battles and political disputes surrounding immigration reform in the United States. As the administration navigates these challenges, the fate of illegal immigrants married to U.S. citizens remains uncertain.
