On September 4th, a Texas judge upheld a temporary suspension on a Biden administration program aimed at providing a path to legal status for immigrant spouses of U.S. citizens. The ruling by District Judge J. Campbell Barker extends the block on the “Keeping Families Together” program until at least September 23, allowing time for further legal proceedings and potential hearings.
The Biden administration introduced the program last month, which could offer a pathway to citizenship for about 500,000 immigrants who entered the U.S. illegally but are married to U.S. citizens. However, Texas and other Republican-led states have challenged the initiative, arguing that it exceeds the executive branch’s authority and sidesteps established immigration laws.
The legal battle comes as immigration continues to be a key issue for voters ahead of the November 5 election, according to polling data. The Keeping Families Together program provides a route to citizenship for undocumented spouses who have lived in the U.S. for at least 10 years, a move that could prevent long-term family separations. Additionally, the program extends temporary “parole” status to around 50,000 children under 21 with a U.S.-citizen parent, also creating a path to legal residency.
The program’s future remains uncertain as the case moves through the courts.
