A U.S. District Judge in Texas ruled on Thursday against President Joe Biden’s immigration program aimed at providing a pathway to citizenship for certain immigrant spouses of U.S. citizens. The ruling could prevent the program from moving forward during the remainder of Biden’s presidency.
Judge J. Campbell Barker determined that the program exceeded Biden’s executive powers. The initiative, known as “Keeping Families Together,” was designed to offer citizenship to approximately 500,000 immigrants who entered the U.S. illegally but are married to U.S. citizens.
The program was introduced in August but was swiftly blocked by Barker after Texas, along with several other states led by Republican attorneys general, filed a legal challenge. The ruling has kept the program on hold as the judge continues to consider the case.
Biden first announced the program in June, before the 2024 election, in an effort to help immigrant families. However, after the election, Biden’s rival, Republican Donald Trump, emerged victorious. Trump has voiced plans for stricter immigration policies, and his campaign criticized Biden’s initiative, calling it a “mass amnesty” that would encourage illegal immigration.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll released Thursday showed that immigration is a top concern for many Americans, with a significant majority expecting Trump to enforce mass deportations once he takes office in January.
The Biden administration may choose to appeal Thursday’s ruling, though the White House did not immediately comment on the decision.
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