Federal judge strikes down Biden program for undocumented immigrants

Source: Axios

2 hours ago


A federal judge in Texas on Thursday ruled against a Biden administration program for undocumented immigrants married to U.S. citizens.

Why it matters: The ruling means roughly 500,000 people who lack legal status but are married to a citizen will have a longer process to get a green card. The program, called "Keeping Families Together," would also have benefited stepchildren of U.S. citizens by creating an easier path to citizenship.

Catch up quick: The Biden administration created the program in June after pressure from immigrant rights groups.

Texas and 15 other states sued, saying the program was harmful to them and would encourage more unauthorized migration.

U.S. District Court Judge J. Campbell Barker put the program on temporary hold in August pending the lawsuit.

Driving the news: Barker said in his ruling Thursday that the administration doesn't have the authority to create such a program.

He sided with Texas, which argued that the program would have burdened it with costs associated with education and health care.

Read more: https://www.axios.com/2024/11/07/biden-immigration-citizenship-marriage-texas-ruling