A federal judge in Texas has temporarily blocked a Biden administration program that could provide a path to citizenship for up to half a million undocumented immigrants married to U.S. citizens. The ruling, made Monday by U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker, came in response to a lawsuit filed by 16 Republican-led states. The court issued an administrative stay, halting the approval of applications while the case is under review.
Judge Barker, appointed by President Trump, said the 67-page complaint filed by the states raised valid concerns about the executive branch's authority to bypass Congress on immigration policy. He described the claims as substantial and in need of further examination.
While the program, called Keeping Families Together, can still accept applications, none can be approved during the suspension, which is initially set for 14 days and could be extended. The initiative, launched in mid-June, allows applicants to bypass returning to their home countries to complete the green card process and grants them a temporary reprieve from deportation, along with work authorization.
The Republican-led states argue that the program amounts to “amnesty” and will strain their financial resources by allowing undocumented immigrants to stay in the U.S. The lawsuit contends the program incentivizes illegal immigration and was created for political reasons. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, along with 15 other states, spearheaded the legal action.
The case is the latest in a series of lawsuits Texas has filed against federal immigration policies, echoing past challenges to initiatives like DACA.
