A federal judge in Texas has temporarily suspended a policy from President Joe Biden’s administration that would grant legal status to spouses of U.S. citizens without the need to leave the country first. This decision represents a setback to one of the president’s significant actions regarding naturalization access. The suspension came after 16 states, all with Republican attorneys general, challenged the program, arguing that the federal government was bypassing Congress for political purposes. Texas, one of the leading states in the challenge, claimed significant financial burdens due to the presence of immigrants without legal status.
The program, announced by Biden in June, aimed to benefit around 500,000 immigrants and approximately 50,000 of their children already in the U.S. The judge’s order, valid for two weeks but potentially extendable, came a week after the Department of Homeland Security started accepting applications. Both parties have until October 10 to present related documents in court. If allowed, the spouses of U.S. citizens without legal status would have a pathway to permanent residency without the typical requirement of leaving the country.
Activists see the program as a way to reunite families and avoid lengthy separations often associated with the naturalization process. The contentious issue is particularly prominent in an election year where immigration is a key topic. Republicans criticize the program as a form of amnesty for law violators. The suspension has disappointed many families in Texas who could have benefited from the program. State officials vow to continue the legal fight to protect American citizens and the rule of law.
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