Federal Judge Halts Biden’s Immigration Policy
Immigration reform efforts have hit a roadblock as a federal judge in Texas has temporarily blocked President Biden’s parole program for undocumented families, casting uncertainty over the fate of thousands of immigrant spouses of US citizens.
Program Allowed Undocumented Spouses to Remain in the Country
Blocks on the path to permanent residency have been lifted for undocumented spouses of US citizens, allowing them to remain in the country while their applications are processed, thanks to the Biden administration’s initiative, Keeping Families Together.
Understanding the program – undocumented immigrants married to US citizens and residents in the country for at least 10 years, among other criteria, were eligible to apply. This move was seen as a hope for mixed-status families who feared separation due to lengthy green card application processes. Assuming the program had continued, approximately half a million foreign-born spouses of US citizens were estimated to be eligible for the parole in place program. These individuals would have been able to remain in the country while their applications for permanent residency were being processed, allowing them to stay with their families and avoid lengthy separations.
Immigration Advocates Condemn Ruling as Heartbreaking
Half a million families may now face uncertainty and potential separation due to the temporary halt of the parole in place program. Immigration advocates have strongly condemned the ruling, calling it “heartbreaking” and warning that it could lead to years, or even permanent, separation of mixed-status families.
This ruling is particularly devastating for families who were relying on the program to stay together. Many of these families have been waiting for years for a chance to regularize their status, and this program offered them a glimmer of hope. Now, that hope has been taken away, leaving them to face an uncertain future.