A Texas judge on Monday ordered a temporary pause on a policy that would streamline the process for spouses of US citizens to obtain legal status in the country, a blow to one of US President Joe Biden’s biggest immigration reform policies.
Judge J. Campbell Barker granted a 14-day administrative
stay in a case brought by the Republican attorneys general of 16 US states
challenging the Biden administration’s policy.
In June, Biden announced the new policy, which streamlined a
pathway to citizenship for an estimated half a million immigrants married to US
nationals.
The 16 states bringing the lawsuit, however, say the policy
is costing them millions of dollars in public services — including healthcare,
education and law enforcement — used by 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
order.
“This is just the first step. We are going to keep fighting
for Texas, our country, and the rule of law,” said Texas Attorney General Ken
Paxton, whose state is party to the case, in a post on social media platform X
after the order.
The Biden administration has been struggling to address
immigration, a hugely divisive issue for many Americans ahead of November’s
presidential election, which will see Vice President Kamala Harris take on
Republican Donald Trump.
The Democratic Party is walking a fine line of seeking to be
tougher on illegal migrants while also introducing reforms to the country’s
inefficient immigration system.
Trump’s campaign for the White House has centred on
portraying the United States as under assault by what he calls a migrant
“invasion.”
• ‘Extreme measure’ –
The new rules would streamline the process for those who already
qualify for permanent residence by removing a requirement that they leave the
country as part of the application process.
The rules applied to those in the country for at least 10
years and married to a US citizen before June 17, 2024, and also applied to an
estimated 50,000 stepchildren of US citizens.
Those approved would be granted work authorization and the
right to stay in the United States for up to three years while they apply for a
green card, which is a pathway to full citizenship.
Monday’s ruling suspends the granting of this “parole in
place” status, but does not halt the government from continuing to accept
applications for the status.
In a statement, US Citizenship and Immigration Services
confirmed it would continue to take applications but would not grant any until
the stay was lifted.
“The District Court’s administrative stay order does not
affect any applications that were approved before the administrative stay order
was issued,” USCIS said.
Immigrant rights group Justice Action Center said the order
was an “extreme measure.”
“To halt a process for which Texas has not been able to
provide an iota of evidence that it would harm the state is baffling,” said
group founder Karen Tumlin.
“This is heartbreaking for our clients and the thousands of
couples who hope to benefit from this process and be able to live without fear
that their family will be separated.”
The Justice Action Center earlier Monday filed a motion
seeking to intervene in the lawsuit to defend the programme.
Barker wrote that the court did not “express any ultimate
conclusions about the success or likely success” of the plaintiffs’ case while
the stay is in place.
The court announced an expedited hearing schedule in the
case, but Barker noted that the two-week stay would likely be extended while
proceedings are underway.
AFP.
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