A federal judge in Texas struck down the Biden administration new green card program for illegal immigrants married to US citizens.
The program called “Keep Families Together” would also benefit the step children of US citizens. The Biden administration introduced the program in June this year to unite families and end the anxiety of many families who could not obtain either green card or citizenship because of their illegal status through an executive order. The program, which would have benefited about 500,000 illegal immigrants, was challenged by the state of Texas and 15 other Republican states in a federal court in Texas on August 26 this year.
In his ruling today, a federal judge appointed by Donald Trump nullified the president’s executive order describing his actions as well intentioned but unconstitutional. T Campbell Parker East Texas federal judge said that the program is a violation of the immigration and Naturalization Act and can not be allowed to stand. He acknowledged that the program would have been beneficial to many immigrant families but lacked a legal leg to stand because it’s illegal.
The Biden administration program granted work permits and protection from deportation to undocumented immigrants married to US citizens and have lived in the US for 10 years. The program program provided a path for these undocumented immigrants and their children to obtain a green card and citizenship in the US.
