Immigrant families in limbo after judge puts U.S. program for spouses on hold

The initiative, which may help an estimated 500,000 immigrants in the United States, was being temporarily suspended by a federal judge in Texas, thereby stopping one of the largest presidential acts to facilitate citizenship in recent memory. Despite the fact that the Biden administration’s “Keeping Families Together” program only opened for applications last week, families and immigration attorneys report that since U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker’s decision, confusion, anxiety, and frustration have already increased. The program started accepting applications on August 19; however, 16 states, led by Republican attorneys general, challenged it, and on August 19 they filed a federal lawsuit. This resulted to the court ruling. Barker’s directive, referred to as an administrative stay, is slated to last for 14 days, though it may be prolonged. The states charged that the administration was eluding Congress for “blatant political purposes” and that the action would create irreversible harm. The government will continue to accept applications and defend the program in court, according to a statement released by the Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday. The government states that any applicants whose parole was approved before the order will not be impacted.