### Federal Judge Blocks Biden’s Pathway to Citizenship for Undocumented Immigrants Married to US Citizens

A federal judge has halted President Joe Biden's initiative designed to offer a pathway to US citizenship for undocumented immigrants married to American citizens. US District Court Judge Campbell Barker, appointed by former President Donald Trump, ruled that the Biden administration lacked the authority to enact the program unilaterally.

This decision aligns with a lawsuit brought forth by 16 states led by Republicans, who contended that immigration legislation should be a matter for Congress, not executive action. Judge Barker had initially placed a temporary block on the program shortly after it was introduced in August.

In response to the ruling, the White House expressed strong disagreement. White House spokesman Angelo Fernández Hernández emphasized the negative impact on families, stating, "This ruling sides with Republican state officials who are seeking to force US citizens and their families, people who have lived in the United States for more than ten years, to either separate or live in the shadows in constant fear of deportation." He underscored the administration’s commitment to keeping American families together.

The Department of Homeland Security also voiced its discontent, describing the ruling as deeply disappointing. The department maintained that the program, dubbed "Keeping Families Together," is based on established legal principles and aligns with core American values.

Conversely, the ruling was praised by America First Legal, a group associated with Trump's political stance and involved in the lawsuit. Gene Hamilton, the executive director, criticized the Biden administration, accusing it of undermining the US immigration system and border security. He stated that the program, if upheld, would have provided amnesty to hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants.

The "Keeping Families Together" initiative intended to grant undocumented immigrants married to US citizens, who have resided in the country for at least ten years, the ability to obtain a green card without leaving the United States. Following three years with a green card, these residents could then apply for citizenship. The Biden administration indicated that roughly half a million undocumented immigrants could benefit from the plan.

Introduced in August, the program followed measures by Biden to curb the number of asylum claims at the US border, amid record highs in border crossings. While the administration considers its next steps, the ruling’s future remains uncertain with the Republican president-elect, Donald Trump, who plans to overhaul US immigration laws and implement "mass deportations," taking office. Biden argued that the program aimed to keep families together, countering the separation seen under previous systems, while critics labeled it an amnesty for illegal entrants.