Federal judge blocks Biden administration's 'parole in place' immigration program

A federal judge in Texas on Monday blocked the Biden administration's "parole in place" program, which would have given illegal immigrant spouses of U.S. citizens a pathway to citizenship. 

A coalition of 16 Republican states, led by Texas, sued the administration over the rule last week, claiming it illegally bypassed Congress in order to create the pathway for "political purposes."

U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker issued the administrative stay on the program, blocking it for at least two weeks as he hears the conservative states' challenge. 

“The claims are substantial and warrant closer consideration than the court has been able to afford to date,” Barker wrote, per the Associated Press.

The program, which was launched last week, allows spouses of American citizens to stay in the country legally and apply for a green card. In order to qualify for the program, the immigrant must have been in the United States for at least 10 years, have no disqualifying criminal history, and have been married to the U.S. citizen by June 17. 

Illegal immigrants can already marry an American citizen and apply for a green card, but they usually have to leave the country first, and the process can take years. The new program eliminates the need to leave the U.S.

Aside from Texas, other states in the suit include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and Wyoming. 

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just the News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.