Texas stops Biden policy allowing residency for US citizen spouses

A Texas judge has put a pause on a Biden administration policy that aimed to speed up the process of granting legal status to spouses of U.S. citizens, dealing a blow to one of the president’s key immigration initiatives. The temporary hold came in response to a lawsuit filed by Republican attorneys general from 16 states, arguing that the policy was costing millions in public services such as healthcare, education, and law enforcement.

The contested policy, introduced in June, would have simplified the citizenship process for around 500,000 immigrants married to U.S. citizens by removing the need to leave the U.S. during the application process. While the Biden administration can still accept applications, no approvals will be granted until the stay is lifted.

As immigration remains a hot-button issue with the approaching presidential election, the administration is faced with challenges in addressing both illegal immigration and reforming the system. The court has yet to reach a final decision on the lawsuit, setting an expedited hearing schedule to further assess the case. Stay tuned for updates on this ongoing legal battle.