A federal judge in Texas has struck down a key Biden administration policy aimed at helping undocumented immigrants married to United States citizens gain a path to citizenship.
The programme, known as “Keeping Families Together,” was one of the most significant recent presidential initiatives for immigrant families, offering undocumented spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens the chance to apply for a green card without needing to leave the United States first.
The initiative, which was expected to benefit an estimated 500,000 immigrants, provided temporary relief from deportation and brought hope to many immigrant families. However, just days after some applicants filed their paperwork, U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker put the policy on hold in August, citing potential overreach. On Thursday, he ruled definitively against the programme, stating that the Biden administration had exceeded its authority and had taken the legal framework of immigration law “past its breaking point.”
This ruling comes as the programme faces additional political challenges with the set return of former President Donald Trump to the White House. Known for his strict immigration policies, Trump would likely have dismantled “Keeping Families Together” if it had remained active when he took office in January. Now, with the programme’s early termination, immigrant families are facing renewed uncertainty about their future.
The Biden administration has not yet announced if it will appeal the decision. However, for now, the end of the “Keeping Families Together” policy marks another chapter in the complex and often volatile landscape of U.S. immigration policy.