Let’s dive into a recent development that’s got everyone talking: a federal judge has ruled against the Biden-Harris administration in a significant case involving immigration policy.
Now, this isn’t just any ruling—it’s a decision that could have far-reaching consequences for thousands of immigrants married to U.S. citizens but who entered the country unlawfully.
So, what exactly happened? Late Monday, Judge J. Campbell Barker of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas put a temporary halt on a new program called “Keeping Families Together.” This program, rolled out on August 19th, was designed to protect certain immigrants from deportation and allow them to work legally while they pursue citizenship.
But here’s the catch: the judge’s ruling, requested by a group of 16 Republican state attorneys general, argues that the Biden-Harris administration overstepped its authority by trying to push this policy through without Congress.
Let’s break it down a bit. The program specifically targets immigrants who are married to U.S. citizens and have been living in the country for at least 10 years—many for much longer, with the average being 23 years! Under the current law, these individuals are supposed to return to their country of origin and wait for their citizenship application to be processed.
But the Biden administration wanted to change that, allowing them to stay in the U.S. while their cases are handled. They call it “parole,” but critics, especially those on the Republican side, see it as a form of amnesty.
Now, Judge Barker’s ruling doesn’t just stop the program—it could derail it entirely. For the next 14 days, the Department of Homeland Security can accept applications, but they can’t process them. This pause gives the courts more time to dig into the legal arguments, and if the stay is extended, it could mean long delays for those hoping to benefit from the program.
Why does this matter? Well, it’s a big win for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and the coalition of Republican leaders who argue that this policy change was politically motivated, especially with the upcoming election. They see it as an attempt by the Biden administration to bypass Congress and push through a significant shift in immigration policy on their own.
But it’s not just about politics. Immigration advocates are deeply concerned. They argue that blocking this program is not only bad for the economy—because many of these immigrants have been working and paying taxes for decades—but also against basic human decency. As Rebecca Shi from the American Business Immigration Coalition put it, stopping this program could hurt families who have built their lives here.