The lawsuit is a response to a new program implemented by the Biden administration, which aims to provide a pathway to legalization and eventual citizenship for immigrants who entered the United States illegally and are now married to American citizens.
This issue is one of the central points of debate in the U.S. presidential campaign, sparking heated discussions about immigration, border security, and immigrant rights. The program proposed by the Biden administration seeks to offer a humanitarian solution for those who, despite having entered the country illegally, have established legitimate and significant family ties in the U.S. According to the government, this measure aims to promote family unity and recognize the contributions of many immigrants to American society.
However, Texas and its allied states view the program as a violation of existing immigration laws and argue that it encourages illegal immigration, disregarding the legal immigration system. The coalition claims that the program places an additional burden on the states in terms of social services, health, and education, while also weakening the enforcement of immigration laws. They also argue that the federal government is exceeding its authority by implementing such changes without congressional approval.
This legal action reflects the deep political division in the United States over the issue of immigration, which remains a highly polarized topic. The response to this lawsuit could have significant implications for immigration policy in the country and will be closely watched by both supporters and opponents of the Biden administration’s policies.
The lawsuit argues that the program, which began accepting applications last Monday, exceeds the federal government’s legal authority by providing assistance to individuals without legal status and disregards the intent of current U.S. immigration laws. According to the states that filed the lawsuit, the program encroaches on legislative power, creating new immigration policies without proper congressional approval, which could be seen as a usurpation of powers.
The initiative, called “Keeping Families Together,” aims to facilitate the process of obtaining citizenship for approximately 500,000 spouses of immigrants who entered the country illegally but are now married to American citizens and have resided in the U.S. for at least 10 years. The program seeks to acknowledge the contributions of these immigrants and the importance of keeping families together, especially in cases where there are American citizen children involved.
Without this alternative, many of these immigrant spouses would be forced to leave the country and face long waiting periods before becoming eligible to return legally. This process often results in family separations for years, causing considerable distress and hardship for both the immigrants and their families. The Biden administration defends the program as a necessary measure to mitigate these negative impacts and to correct what it sees as injustices in the current immigration system.
On the other hand, the Republican-led states contesting the program believe it creates a dangerous precedent by encouraging illegal immigration and undermining the U.S. legal immigration system. They also express concerns that this policy could overload public services and create a perception of impunity for those who enter the country illegally. The lawsuit is thus another chapter in the intense political and legal battle over immigration in the United States, reflecting the deep divisions that permeate the national debate on how to deal with the millions of immigrants living in the country without legal status.
Republicans have made illegal immigration a central focus of the presidential election campaign, in which former President Donald Trump, a Republican, will face Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate.
America First Legal, an organization led by Trump adviser Stephen Miller, co-authored the lawsuit along with Texas and 15 other states with Republican attorneys general.
Miller, a key figure behind Trump’s restrictive immigration policies during his presidency from 2017-2021, called Biden’s program “blatantly illegal” in a statement.
The Keeping Families Together program also includes provisions for young immigrants, allowing around 50,000 minors under the age of 21 who have at least one U.S. citizen parent to obtain temporary status. This status creates a pathway to citizenship, intending to keep families together and offer a humanitarian solution for those who might otherwise face long separations due to complex immigration laws.
So far, the White House has not responded to a request for comment on the lawsuit and the criticisms raised by the Texas-led coalition of states. This is yet another episode in the ongoing series of legal battles between Texas and the Biden administration, particularly on issues related to immigration and border security.
In July, a federal appeals court authorized Texas to maintain a large floating barrier on the Rio Grande, designed to prevent the illegal entry of immigrants from Mexico. This barrier is part of a series of stricter measures adopted by the state under Republican leadership to try to control the flow of immigrants at the southern U.S. border.
These actions, along with the recent challenge to the program, reflect the firm stance of Texas and other Republican states on immigration, emphasizing border enforcement and the strict application of existing laws. The legal dispute over Biden’s program is seen by many as a reflection of the deep political divisions over how the U.S. should address immigration, an issue that remains a crucial point of debate in American politics.
As Texas and its allied states intensify their legal actions against the federal government, the issue of immigration becomes increasingly central to the U.S. political landscape. The program and border policies are just a few of the many aspects of this complex debate that have polarized the country. While Republicans push for stricter control and measures to reinforce immigration law enforcement, Democrats seek solutions that promote family reunification and offer opportunities to immigrants already integrated into American society.
With the presidential elections approaching, these issues are expected to continue shaping political discourse and influencing voters’ decisions. The outcome of the legal disputes and the candidates’ stances on immigration will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the future of U.S. immigration policies and the fate of millions of immigrants who aspire to a better life in the country.
