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A Texas judge has issued a temporary halt to President Joe Biden’s immigration reform policy aimed at expediting legal status for spouses of U.S. citizens.
The policy, introduced in June, was designed to create a streamlined pathway to citizenship for an estimated half a million immigrants married to U.S. nationals.
However, on Monday, August 26, Judge J. Campbell Barker granted a 14-day administrative stay, pausing the policy’s implementation.
This decision came in response to a lawsuit filed by Republican attorneys general from 16 states, who argued that the policy could impose significant financial burdens on state resources, including healthcare, education, and law enforcement.
Judge Barker’s ruling highlights concerns about the potential impact of the policy, noting that
“the claims are substantial and warrant closer consideration than the court has been able to afford to date.”
The policy, which also included provisions for an estimated 50,000 stepchildren of U.S. citizens, would have allowed eligible immigrants to remain in the United States while applying for a green card, bypassing the requirement to leave the country during the process.
Although the judge’s order temporarily halts new applications, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) clarified that applications approved before the stay would not be affected.
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The ruling has sparked significant debate, with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton celebrating the decision as a victory for the state and the rule of law.
In contrast, immigrant rights advocates, such as Karen Tumlin, founder of the Justice Action Center, have criticized the court’s decision as an “extreme measure” that could unfairly impact thousands of families.
