A Texas judge has temporarily halted a Biden administration policy that would grant legal status to immigrant spouses of U.S. citizens and their children without requiring them to leave the country. The program, which had just started accepting applications, would benefit an estimated half a million adults in the country illegally and 50,000 of their children. Eligible applicants must have lived in the U.S. for at least 10 years as of June 17, 2024, and be legally married to a U.S. citizen by that date. The program also allows individuals to work for three years in the U.S. while seeking permanent legal status.
The judge’s order, set to expire in two weeks, could be extended. Immigration has become a top issue for voters ahead of the November election. The Biden administration has been criticized for record numbers of undocumented immigrants crossing the U.S. border. In response, Biden signed an executive order allowing the U.S. to turn away migrants who enter the country without legal permission when more than 2,500 migrants enter between legal ports of entry. Migrant apprehensions along the U.S.-Mexico border decreased in July, reaching the lowest level of the Biden administration.
Overall, the policy aims to protect undocumented immigrants from deportation and allow them to obtain legal status in the U.S. without having to leave the country. The ruling by the Texas judge, appointed by former President Donald Trump, could have implications for the future of the program.
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