A Texas judge has issued a temporary pause on a key immigration reform policy introduced by President Joe Biden, which aimed to streamline the process for spouses of U.S. citizens to obtain legal status. The policy, announced in June, was expected to benefit approximately half a million immigrants married to U.S. nationals by simplifying the pathway to citizenship. The new rules would have eliminated the need for eligible applicants to leave the country during the application process, provided they had been in the U.S. for at least 10 years and were married to a U.S. citizen before June 17, 2024.
However, the policy has faced legal challenges from the Republican attorneys general of 16 states, who argue that it is costing their states millions of dollars in public services such as healthcare, education, and law enforcement. In response, Judge J. Campbell Barker granted a 14-day administrative stay to allow for closer examination of the claims.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, one of the key figures behind the lawsuit, expressed his commitment to continuing the fight against the policy, framing it as a defense of the rule of law.
The Biden administration’s efforts to address immigration remain a contentious issue, particularly in the lead-up to the November presidential election. The administration is attempting to balance tougher enforcement against illegal immigration with reforms to improve the efficiency of the U.S. immigration system. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump, who is running for re-election, has been campaigning on a platform that emphasizes his stance against what he describes as a “migrant invasion.”
