President Biden's Immigration reform policy suspended by Texas judge

On Monday, a Texas judge halted a policy aimed at making it easier for spouses of US citizens to get legal status in the country.

This decision is a setback for President Joe Biden's immigration reform agenda. The temporary pause was granted by Judge J. Campbell Barker in response to a lawsuit filed by the Republican attorneys general of 16 states.

The stay will last for 14 days as the case is further reviewed.

In June, Biden announced the new policy, which streamlined a pathway to citizenship for an estimated half a million immigrants married to US nationals.

The 16 states bringing the lawsuit, however, say the policy is costing them millions of dollars in public services — including healthcare, education and law enforcement — used by the immigrants.

“The claims are substantial and warrant closer consideration than the court has been able to afford to date,” Judge Barker wrote in his order.

“This is just the first step. We are going to keep fighting for Texas, our country, and the rule of law,” said Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, whose state is party to the case, in a post on social media platform X after the order.

The Biden administration has been struggling to address immigration, a hugely divisive issue for many Americans ahead of November’s presidential election, which will see Vice President Kamala Harris take on Republican Donald Trump.

The Democratic Party is walking a fine line of seeking to be tougher on illegal migrants while also introducing reforms to the country’s inefficient immigration system.

Trump’s campaign for the White House has centered on portraying the United States as under assault by what he calls a migrant “invasion.”

AFP