A Texas judge has temporarily blocked a key immigration reform policy announced by President Joe Biden, which aimed to simplify the process for spouses of U.S. citizens to obtain legal status. Judge J. Campbell Barker granted a 14-day administrative stay following a lawsuit filed by the attorneys general of 16 Republican-led states challenging the policy.
Introduced in June, Biden’s policy sought to streamline citizenship for approximately half a million immigrants married to U.S. nationals by removing the requirement for them to leave the country during the application process.
The suing states argue that the policy imposes significant costs on public services such as healthcare, education, and law enforcement. Judge Barker noted that the claims warrant further consideration and that this ruling is an initial step in the legal battle.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton vowed to continue fighting the policy, emphasizing the importance of defending Texas and the rule of law.
The Biden administration faces ongoing challenges with immigration reform as it approaches the November presidential election, where Vice President Kamala Harris will face off against Republican Donald Trump. The new rules aimed to facilitate the process for those who already qualify for permanent residence, including around 50,000 stepchildren of U.S. citizens, by granting temporary work authorization and residency for up to three years during their green card application.
While the ruling suspends the “parole in place” status, the Department of Homeland Security can still accept applications for this status. The court has scheduled an expedited hearing but indicated that the stay might be extended through mid-October.
