The Biden-Harris administration faced a setback on Thursday when a federal judge blocked a program aimed at protecting illegal immigrants married to U.S. citizens from deportation.
U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker, appointed by President Trump, ruled that the “Keeping Families Together” program overstepped executive authority.
The decision was shared on social media by America First Legal, a group involved in the lawsuit.
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“We just WON our lawsuit with Ken Paxton, Raul Labrador, and a coalition of 14 states. We have officially STOPPED the Biden-Harris Administration’s illegal attempt to grant mass amnesty to hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens,” America First Legal announced on X.
WE CRUSHED THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMIN’S ILLEGAL AMNESTY IN COURT. https://t.co/sF97blDNvv
— America First Legal (@America1stLegal) November 8, 2024
The program, introduced by the Biden-Harris administration over the summer, offered protection to migrants residing in the U.S. illegally who are married to American citizens.
However, the court’s ruling determined that such a policy would require congressional approval and was not within the scope of the executive branch’s authority.
Gene Hamilton, executive director of America First Legal, commended the court’s decision. “This program would have provided amnesty to hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens and paved the path for the largest administrative amnesty in American history,” Hamilton said in a statement to Fox News.
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He also pointed to what he described as the administration’s continued efforts to “decimate” the U.S. immigration system.
“Since day one, the Biden-Harris Administration has dedicated itself to the decimation of our immigration system and the erasure of our borders. Time and again, the States stood up,” Hamilton added.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador, and attorneys general from 12 other states joined the legal challenge, contending that the program represented an unlawful attempt at mass amnesty without legislative backing.
The coalition argued that the program, if enacted, would have set a precedent for administrative amnesty on a massive scale.
Hamilton praised the coalition’s efforts in halting the program. “The great State of Texas and the courageous Ken Paxton, alongside a coalition of other brave Attorneys General, succeeded in stopping an illegal program that would have provided amnesty to hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens and paved the path for the largest administrative amnesty in American history. We are proud to stand alongside these patriots in defense of our great nation,” he said.
The “Keeping Families Together” initiative was part of a broader immigration agenda by the Biden-Harris administration to address the status of undocumented individuals with close family ties to U.S. citizens.
However, the ruling signals continued legal challenges to executive actions that seek to modify immigration policies without going through Congress.
The decision marks yet another legal obstacle for the administration amid ongoing debates over the future of U.S. immigration policies.
With this ruling, the program’s future remains uncertain, as any further action may require legislative support or a renewed legal strategy by the administration.
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Glad this was shut down. Congress needs to get in gear and review current and legislated immigration laws to avoid the mess we have now.