A federal judge in Texas has rejected the Biden administration’s attempt to legalize hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants married to U.S. citizens through a program called “Keeping Families Together.” The initiative aimed to protect illegal immigrants married to U.S. citizens from deportation, but U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker deemed the program unlawful and beyond Biden’s executive authority. The decision was celebrated by America First Legal, which stated that the illegal granting of mass amnesty to illegal aliens had been stopped.
The program launched in August was quickly blocked days later by Barker, who left it frozen while considering a legal challenge brought by Texas and a coalition of U.S. states with Republican attorneys general. The administration estimated that around 500,000 immigrants and about 50,000 children would be impacted, while the coalition of states argued that it would allow more than 1.3 million illegal immigrants to benefit. The states contended that the rule violated federal law, which prohibits illegal immigrants from obtaining immigration benefits without first leaving the country and being readmitted.
The ruling was praised by Gene Hamilton, America First Legal Executive Director, who emphasized the administration’s dedication to dismantling the immigration system and erasing borders. The states involved in the lawsuit, such as Texas, Missouri, and Alabama, highlighted the need to protect American citizens and secure the southern border. They accused the Biden administration of creating a crisis at the border and leaving the American people to deal with the consequences. The lawsuit aimed to prevent unvetted individuals from invading communities and advocated for a fair and just immigration system.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the White House had previously defended the policy and vowed to protect it in court. DHS emphasized the importance of Keeping Families Together and its alignment with American values, pledging to continue processing applications. However, Republican officials, including those in the lawsuit states, were accused of prioritizing politics over helping American families or fixing the broken immigration system. The White House claimed that the lawsuit sought to force U.S. citizens and their families to live in the shadows and insisted on vigorously defending the policy.
The White House accused Congressional Republicans of failing to secure the border and enforce laws, emphasizing President Biden’s executive actions to reduce encounters between points of entry. Despite the administration’s efforts to secure the border and defend the policy, the lawsuit persisted with the states challenging the legality of the parole-based program. The states involved in the lawsuit, including Texas, Idaho, Alabama, and others, aimed to prevent what they viewed as an unlawful granting of amnesty to illegal immigrants and the erosion of American values.
Overall, the federal judge’s ruling marked a setback for the Biden administration’s immigration policies, particularly concerning the legalization of hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants married to U.S. citizens. The legal challenge brought by a coalition of states highlighted concerns about the program’s potential impact on the immigration system and American values. The ongoing debate between the states, the Biden administration, and legal authorities underscores the complex and contentious nature of immigration policy in the United States.
