Trump-nominated judge blocks Biden’s ‘Keeping Families Together’ immigration policy | What it means

US Elections 2024: A Donald Trump-nominated judge Thursday struck down Joe Biden's “Keeping Families Together” policy, intended to help undocumented spouses of US citizens obtain legal status. This move is a major blow to an estimated half a million people eligible under the programme.

Judge J Campbell Barker of the Eastern District of Texas ruled that federal agencies “lack statutory authority” for the programme, reported AFP. 

The verdict comes merely days after Donald Trump swept to victory in the US presidential Elections, with cracking down on illegal immigration and launching massive deportations at the top of his list of promises.

Mint explains what this means for the people concerned.

'Keeping Families Together' policy struck down: What changes?

Under current laws, non-citizen spouses are eligible for legal status but often must apply from their home countries. In some cases, they may face a ban of up to 10 years before being allowed to return to the US.

Joe Biden's policy would have offered temporary protection from deportation to undocumented spouses and stepchildren of US citizens through a process called “parole in place.” This would have allowed them to apply for legal status without the need to leave the country, as stated on the US Immigration Department's website.

It is currently unclear what will happen to those who have already submitted their paperwork or if the fees will be refunded to the applicants, stated US media reports.

‘Shattered hopes…’

Ashley DeAzevedo, president of American Families United, said the move has shattered the hopes of “hundreds of thousands of families.” 

ABC News quoted Ashley as saying, “The Biden-Harris program would have allowed noncitizen spouses and noncitizen stepchildren of U.S. citizens to stay in the country after they've contributed to our communities, helped grow our economy, and built lives with their loved ones.” 

‘Keeping Families Together’: Story behind

President Joe Biden announced the "Keeping Families Together" policy in June at the height of his reelection bid. However, a coalition of 16 Republican-led states—led by Texas and Stephen Miller's America First Legal—quickly filed a lawsuit after applications were made available in August.

Consequently, Judge Barker temporarily halted the programme in August and again after an appeals court lifted the stay.

The programme would apply to immigrants who have been in the country for at least 10 years and were married to US citizens before June 17, 2024, and also apply to an estimated 50,000 stepchildren of US citizens.