A federal judge in Texas has ruled against the Biden administration’s “parole in place” program, which aimed to protect hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants married to U.S. citizens from deportation.
The program, named “Keeping Families Together,” was introduced by the Biden administration in the summer and was designed to allow undocumented immigrants married to U.S. citizens to remain in the country without the threat of deportation. However, U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, ruled on Thursday that the program was unlawful, stating that it exceeded the Biden administration’s executive authority.
Following the ruling, America First Legal, a conservative advocacy group, celebrated the decision, claiming victory in a lawsuit led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. The group’s statement on social media read, “We have officially STOPPED the Biden-Harris Administration’s illegal attempt to grant mass amnesty to hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens.”
The program, which was launched in August, faced immediate legal challenges from a coalition of Republican-led states, led by Texas. Judge Barker had blocked the program days after it was introduced, freezing it while he reviewed the legal arguments against it.
The Biden administration had estimated that around 500,000 immigrants, along with about 50,000 children, would have benefited from the program. However, the coalition of states argued that the rule could allow up to 1.3 million undocumented immigrants to qualify for protection. The states contended that the policy violated federal law, which prohibits illegal immigrants from receiving benefits, including permanent residency, without first leaving the country and being readmitted.
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey criticized the program, stating, “Joe Biden and Kamala Harris created a crisis at the southern border, leaving the American people to pay the consequences.” He added, “States like Missouri had no choice but to step in and take action to secure our southern border.”
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the White House have both defended the program. A DHS spokesperson reiterated the administration’s commitment to the “Keeping Families Together” initiative, calling it a legal and necessary step to protect families. The White House also expressed support for the policy, accusing Republican officials of playing politics rather than addressing the nation’s immigration issues.
In response to the ruling, DHS pledged to continue processing applications for the program that had already been filed and to accept new applications. A spokesperson for the White House argued that the lawsuit sought to separate American families, calling it “against our nation’s values.”
The legal battle over the program is ongoing, with the Biden administration vowing to appeal the decision. The lawsuit, which was filed by 16 states, will continue to shape the national debate over immigration policy and border security.
The states involved in the lawsuit include Texas, Idaho, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Wyoming.
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