A federal judge has paused the implementation of a Biden administration policy aimed at making it easier for the families of migrants to gain legal status. US District Judge J. Campbell Barker stopped the “Keeping Families Together” program in a Texas court days after a group of GOP-led states filed a suit against the federal government.
The suit argues that the policy violates the authority of immigration agencies and the Administrative Procedures Act, which governs the establishment of federal rules. Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said, “Biden’s new parole workaround unilaterally grants the opportunity for citizenship to unvetted aliens” and that this worsens an already disastrous immigration policy that is “hurting Texas and our country.”
Critics of the lawsuit say, however, that Paxton’s claim is untrue and that all applicants undergo background checks and “national security and public safety vetting.” The Biden administration furthermore stated that people seeking new status under the law has already lived in the United States for an average period of 23 years. It further noted that only those who have spent more than a decade in America will be eligible.
A White House statement called the legal filing “cruel” because it seeks to separate US citizens from their families. Introducing the legislation, President Biden said it would bring peace of mind to mixed-status American households and reflect the values of the United States.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson Mayra Alejandra confirmed that the Department will fight the lawsuit in court, while Judge Campbell acknowledged that his ruling does not indicate whether or not the lawsuit will succeed.
The DHS has already begun accepting applications from individuals seeking to alter their legal status and will continue to do so while legal processes are played out. Applicants must pay $580, fill out several lengthy documents, and provide proof that they have lived in the United States for at least ten years. They will also be required to explain why they deserve legal status in the country. If approved, applicants have three years to apply for permanent residency and are allowed to seek legal employment during that time.