Texas sues over Biden legalization program for immigrants married to US citizens
Texas, Florida, and others sued President Joe Biden’s administration over a new immigration program for spouses of U.S. citizens. States include Georgia, Ohio, Idaho, Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and Wyoming.
Texas and a coalition of Republican-led states on Friday sued President Joe Biden’s administration over a new program that offers a path to citizenship for immigrants who entered the U.S. illegally and are now married to U.S. citizens.
The lawsuit argues the program, which began accepting applications on Monday, oversteps the administration’s authority to provide relief to those without legal status and circumvents the intent of U.S. immigration laws.
The initiative, called Keeping Families Together, provides a path to citizenship to an estimated 500,000 immigrant spouses who entered the U.S. illegally and have at least 10 years of residence. Without this option, many would need to leave the U.S. for years before being able to return legally.
Republicans have made illegal immigration a central focus of the Nov. 5 presidential election where former President Donald Trump, a Republican, will face off against the Democratic candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris.
America First Legal, an organization led by Trump adviser Stephen Miller, served as co-counsel in the lawsuit alongside Texas and 15 other states with Republican attorneys general.
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