U.S. judge temporarily blocks Biden legalization program for immigrant spouses of US citizens

A U.S. judge on Wednesday upheld a temporary block on a Biden administration program aimed at legalizing immigrant spouses of U.S. citizens. U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker of Texas extended the pause on the program until September 23 to allow time for further legal briefings and a potential hearing.

The program, called Keeping Families Together, was launched by President Joe Biden’s administration last month. It offers a path to citizenship for about 500,000 immigrants who entered the U.S. unlawfully but are married to U.S. citizens.

Texas and a group of Republican-led states filed a lawsuit to halt the program, arguing that it exceeded the executive branch's authority by granting legal status to those who entered the country illegally, thus bypassing U.S. immigration laws.

The initiative was introduced by Biden in June, before he dropped out of the presidential race against Donald Trump, allowing Vice President Kamala Harris to take over as the Democratic candidate.

Immigration remains a major concern for voters as the November 5 election approaches, according to Reuters/Ipsos polls. The Keeping Families Together program provides a path to citizenship for immigrant spouses with at least 10 years of U.S. residence, many of whom would otherwise face long absences from the country before returning legally. The program also offers temporary "parole" status for around 50,000 children under 21 who have a U.S.-citizen parent, which could eventually lead to citizenship.