A Texas judge issued a temporary halt to one of US President Joe Biden’s significant immigration reforms, which was designed to streamline the path to legal status for the spouses of US citizens. Judge J. Campbell Barker granted a 14-day administrative stay after a lawsuit was brought by the Republican attorneys general of 16 states challenging the policy.
Announced in June, Biden’s policy aimed to create a faster pathway to citizenship for approximately half a million immigrants married to US nationals. However, the 16 states involved in the lawsuit argue that the policy is costing them millions in public services, including healthcare, education, and law enforcement for the immigrants.
In his ruling, Judge Barker wrote that “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 plaintiffs, expressed his intent to continue fighting the policy, stating, “This is just the first step. We are going to keep fighting for Texas, our country, and the rule of law.”
This ruling comes at a critical time as the Biden administration faces ongoing challenges in addressing immigration, a key issue ahead of the upcoming presidential election, where Vice President Kamala Harris is set to face off against Republican candidate Donald Trump. The Democratic Party is balancing efforts to reform immigration while also maintaining a firm stance on illegal immigration.
Biden’s new rules aimed to simplify the process for immigrants who have been in the US for at least 10 years and are married to US citizens before June 17, 2024. It would also apply to around 50,000 stepchildren of US citizens, granting them work authorization and the ability to stay in the country for up to three years while applying for a green card.
The judge’s order suspends the granting of this “parole in place” status but allows the Department of Homeland Security to continue accepting applications. While the stay is initially for two weeks, Judge Barker indicated that it could be extended further.
