Texas Judge Halts Biden Immigration Initiative

A federal judge in Texas has issued a temporary hold on the Biden administration's 'Keeping Families Together' immigration initiative, which aimed to provide a pathway to citizenship for undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens. The ruling follows a lawsuit from 16 states, led by Texas, claiming the program encourages illegal immigration and imposes financial burdens on state resources. U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker emphasized that the states' claims warrant closer examination, thus pausing the program for at least two weeks while the case is considered. The initiative was projected to benefit around 500,000 undocumented immigrants and offer them the opportunity to apply for green cards and work permits while remaining in the U.S. Critics argue the plan amounts to amnesty, while supporters maintain it seeks to keep families unified. The Department of Homeland Security can still receive applications during this period but cannot process them.