A federal judge has invalidated a Biden administration program aimed at granting legal status to undocumented immigrants married to citizens of the United States of America.
U.S. District Court Judge J. Campbell Barker, appointed by former President Donald Trump, ruled that the policy violated U.S. immigration laws.
The decision aligns with a lawsuit from Texas and other Republican-led states, challenging the administration’s efforts to support mixed-status families through a policy known as Keeping Families Together.
The Biden administration launched this initiative in June, projecting that it could benefit approximately 500,000 undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens.
The program was designed to offer work permits, protection from deportation, and a pathway to permanent residency for immigrants who have lived in the U.S. for a decade or more without serious criminal offenses.
Eligible individuals would also be able to apply for U.S. citizenship after three years.
The Justice Department may appeal the decision. However, with an impending change in administration, Trump has pledged to reverse Biden’s immigration policies and implement stricter border measures, potentially including mass deportations and increased border security.
