A federal judge in Texas has temporarily halted a government program that would grant legal status to spouses of American citizens who arrived illegally and have been living in the country for over a decade. The decision comes in response to a lawsuit from 16 Republican states questioning the constitutionality of the program, which could benefit around 500,000 undocumented migrants.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton led the lawsuit, claiming that the program bypassed Congress and is unconstitutional. The program, called Parole in Place and announced by President Joe Biden, aims to provide a pathway to citizenship for undocumented migrants married to U.S. citizens.
Despite the criticism from the Republican Party, the tightening of asylum conditions by President Biden led to a 32% decrease in illegal arrivals in July. While the legal battle continues, many are hopeful that a solution can be reached to provide relief to immigrant families.
Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAÍS USA Edition