DeKalb GA News

A federal judge has temporarily blocked a program introduced by the Biden administration aimed at providing amnesty to illegal immigrants married to U.S. citizens. The program, named "Keeping Families Together," sought to offer a pathway to citizenship for up to one million individuals.

U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker issued an administrative stay following a legal challenge by 16 Republican states. In his ruling, Barker stated that the plaintiffs' arguments were "substantial and warrant closer consideration than the court has been able to afford to date."

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who played a key role in initiating the lawsuit, contended that the program "directly violates the rules created by Congress" and was intended for "blatant political purposes." Both Paxton and America First Legal welcomed the ruling, arguing that it incentivized criminal behavior.

"We have temporarily BLOCKED Biden’s unlawful new 'parole in place' program," Paxton wrote on social media platform X. "Biden’s unconstitutional scheme would have rewarded over 1 million illegal aliens with the opportunity for citizenship after breaking our country’s laws—and incentivized countless more."

Since January 2021, when President Biden took office, an estimated 10-15 million illegal immigrants have entered the United States, according to critics who argue that the administration has failed to enforce federal immigration laws effectively.

While some marriages between illegal immigrants and American citizens are genuine, others are reportedly formed with the intent of securing legal status in the country.