Court halts Biden’s immigration policy for spouses of U.S. citizens.

A Texas judge temporarily halted a Biden administration policy aimed at simplifying the legal status process for spouses of U.S. citizens, dealing a setback to one of President Biden’s significant immigration reform efforts.

Judge J. Campbell Barker issued a 14-day administrative stay in response to a lawsuit from 16 Republican-led states challenging the policy. Introduced in June, the policy sought to streamline the path to citizenship for about half a million immigrants married to U.S. nationals.

The states opposing the policy argue that it is costing them millions in public services like healthcare, education, and law enforcement for the immigrants.

“The claims are substantial and warrant closer consideration than the court has been able to afford to date,” Judge Barker wrote in his decision.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, whose state is part of the lawsuit, vowed to continue the fight on social media, stating, “This is just the first step.”

The Biden administration has faced challenges in addressing immigration, a divisive issue as the 2024 presidential election approaches. The Democratic Party is trying to balance being tough on illegal immigration while reforming the current immigration system.

Former President Donald Trump, Biden’s likely opponent, has focused his campaign on framing immigration as a “migrant invasion.”

The Biden policy would streamline the process for those already eligible for permanent residence by eliminating the requirement to leave the country during the application process. It applied to those in the U.S. for at least 10 years and married to a U.S. citizen before June 17, 2024. Around 50,000 stepchildren of U.S. citizens would also benefit.

Approved applicants would receive work authorization and the right to remain in the U.S. for up to three years while pursuing a green card, which is a pathway to full citizenship.

Monday’s ruling pauses the granting of this “parole in place” status, but the government can still accept applications. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services confirmed that applications approved before the stay would not be affected.

Justice Action Center, an immigrant rights group, criticized the order as an “extreme measure.” Founder Karen Tumlin expressed concern for the thousands of couples who hoped to benefit from the process without fear of family separation.

The Justice Action Center filed a motion to intervene in the lawsuit to defend the policy. Judge Barker noted that while the stay is in effect, the court did not make any final judgments on the merits of the case and set an expedited hearing schedule. The stay may be extended as the proceedings continue.