A federal court in Texas has temporarily halted a Biden administration program that allows undocumented spouses to apply for legal status.
The ruling impacts roughly 500,000 people thought to be eligible for the Keeping Families Together program — which gives undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens who’ve spent at least a decade in the U.S. the chance to apply for legal status and a work permit.
A coalition of GOP-led states filed suit just days after it began last week — they argue the program was enacted improperly and could harm their states financially.
Late Monday, Trump-appointee District Court Judge J. Campbell Barker sided with the states and ruled to halt the program for a 14-day period that could be extended. He gave both sides until October to file arguments. Citizenship and Immigration Services says it will still accept program applications, but can’t process them for now.
Earlier Monday, a group of couples hoping to apply for the program, along with a rights organization representing other families, filed a motion to intervene in the case and argue the program’s merits in court. But the court has not yet ruled on whether they can take part.
