Texas and GOP States Challenge Biden's Citizenship Pathway Program

Texas and several Republican-led states have sued the Biden administration over a new program, 'Keeping Families Together,' that offers citizenship to immigrants illegally married to U.S. citizens. The lawsuit claims that the program exceeds the administration's legal authority and violates immigration laws.

Texas and a coalition of Republican-led states have initiated legal action against President Joe Biden's administration over a newly launched program, 'Keeping Families Together,' which provides a path to citizenship for immigrants in the U.S. illegally who are married to U.S. citizens.

The lawsuit, filed on Friday, contends that the program, accepting applications since Monday, overreaches the administration's legal bounds in offering relief to immigrants who entered the country illegally. It argues that the initiative circumvents the foundational intent of U.S. immigration laws. The program aims to help around 500,000 immigrant spouses who have resided in the U.S. for at least a decade, avoiding the need for prolonged absences to re-enter legally.

This legal challenge intensifies as illegal immigration becomes a pivotal topic in the upcoming November 5 presidential election, where former President Donald Trump is set to contend against the Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris.

(With inputs from agencies.)