Summary
A federal judge appointed by former President Trump has ruled against the Biden administration’s immigration policy known as the “Keeping Families Together” program, which aimed to provide a pathway to legal status for undocumented immigrants married to U.S. citizens. This decision halts the program that would have allowed approximately 500,000 undocumented spouses and stepchildren to apply for green cards without leaving the country.
The ruling, delivered by Judge J. Campbell Barker, came after a legal challenge from Texas and 15 other Republican-led states, which argued that the policy violated the Immigration and Naturalization Act by overstepping executive authority. The judge found that the program, which had temporarily protected eligible immigrants from deportation and allowed them to apply for work permits, was unlawful. The Biden administration’s initiative was designed to ease the immigration process for long-term residents who were not considered security threats, but it faced significant opposition from conservative lawmakers and state officials, who labeled it a form of “amnesty” that undermined existing immigration laws. The ruling has intensified the ongoing debate over immigration policy in the U.S., especially as the political landscape shifts with the anticipated return of Trump to the presidency.
Background of the Program
The “Keeping Families Together” program was introduced by the Biden administration in June 2024. It aimed to allow undocumented immigrants who had been living in the U.S. for at least 10 years and were married to U.S. citizens to apply for a green card without having to leave the country for a consular interview. This initiative was seen as a way to keep families together and reduce the uncertainty faced by many immigrant families regarding their legal status.
Legal Challenge and Ruling
The program faced immediate legal challenges from Republican states, which argued that it created an unlawful pathway to citizenship that circumvented Congress. Judge Barker’s ruling emphasized that the Biden administration had exceeded its authority by implementing the program, stating that it stretched the legal interpretation of immigration law “past its breaking point.”
Implications of the Decision
The ruling has significant implications for immigrant families, as it effectively removes a temporary safety net for many who were hoping to gain legal status. It also reflects the ongoing partisan divide over immigration policy in the U.S., with Republicans advocating for stricter enforcement and Democrats pushing for more lenient measures to support undocumented immigrants. The decision is likely to influence future immigration policies, especially with Trump’s return to the White House expected to bring a more hardline approach to immigration enforcement.
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