A Texas judge has temporarily blocked a policy aimed at streamlining the process for spouses of US citizens to obtain legal status.
Judge J. Campbell Barker granted a 14-day administrative stay in a case brought by 16 Republican attorneys general challenging the Biden administration’s policy.
In June, President Joe Biden announced the new policy, which would streamline a pathway to citizenship for an estimated half a million immigrants married to US nationals. However, the 16 states bringing the lawsuit argue that the policy is costing them millions of dollars in public services.
“The claims are substantial and warrant closer consideration than the court has been able to afford to date,” Judge Barker wrote in his order.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, whose state is party to the case, said, “This is just the first step. We are going to keep fighting for Texas, our country, and the rule of law.”
The Biden administration has been struggling to address immigration, a highly divisive issue ahead of the presidential election. The new rules would streamline the process for those who already qualify for permanent residence by removing a requirement that they leave the country as part of the application process.
Monday’s ruling suspends the granting of “parole in place” status but does not halt the government from continuing to accept applications. US Citizenship and Immigration Services confirmed it would continue to take applications but would not grant any until the stay was lifted.
Immigrant rights group Justice Action Center called the order an “extreme measure.” Karen Tumlin, the group’s founder, said, “To halt a process for which Texas has not been able to provide an iota of evidence that it would harm the state is baffling… This is heartbreaking for our clients and the thousands of couples who hope to benefit from this process and be able to live without fear that their family will be separated.”
The court announced an expedited hearing schedule in the case, but Barker noted that the two-week stay would likely be extended while proceedings are under way.
