In a significant ruling Thursday, a federal judge struck down a Biden administration initiative, Keeping Families Together, that aimed to provide a path to legal status for unauthorized immigrants married to U.S. citizens. U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker, appointed by former President Donald Trump, sided with Texas and other Republican-led states in their lawsuit against the program, deeming it unlawful.
The Keeping Families Together initiative, launched earlier this year, was crafted to help mixed-status families stay united by offering deportation protections, work permits, and a streamlined pathway to citizenship. Approximately 500,000 immigrants stood to benefit from the program, which required applicants to meet certain criteria, such as having lived in the U.S. for over a decade and maintaining a clean criminal record.
A distinctive feature of the program allowed undocumented immigrants to bypass the common requirement to leave the U.S. and re-enter legally to apply for a green card. This provision was designed to prevent families from facing extended separation, as departing the country after an unlawful stay can trigger re-entry bans lasting years.
However, Judge Barker concluded that the Biden administration overstepped its authority by offering parole to undocumented immigrants already in the U.S. This ruling is a significant setback to Biden’s immigration policies, likely to face even greater challenges with the incoming Trump administration, which has vowed to reverse Biden’s initiatives and focus on strict border enforcement.
With the Justice Department potentially preparing an appeal, the Keeping Families Together program’s future remains uncertain. Trump has already indicated that his administration would prioritize border security and impose stringent immigration measures, casting doubt on the continuation of Biden’s policies.
This ruling underscores the shifting landscape of U.S. immigration policy as political dynamics change and legal battles intensify. For the thousands of families impacted, the uncertainty lingers as they await the next developments.
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