Texas Sues Biden Over New Immigration Pathway for Spouses and Children

Texas and other Republican-led states have filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration over the 'Keeping Families Together' program, which provides a pathway to citizenship for immigrants married to U.S. citizens. The program, also covering certain children, accepts applications and is claimed to undermine U.S. immigration laws.

Texas and a coalition of Republican-led states filed a lawsuit on Friday against President Joe Biden's administration. The lawsuit challenges a new program that offers a path to citizenship for immigrants who entered the U.S. illegally and are now married to U.S. citizens. It argues that the initiative oversteps administrative authority and circumvents U.S. immigration laws.

Named 'Keeping Families Together,' the initiative aims to grant citizenship to an estimated 500,000 immigrant spouses and 50,000 children under age 21 with a U.S.-citizen parent. The program began accepting applications on Monday. Without this path, many immigrants would have to leave the U.S. for years before returning legally.

Republicans have focused heavily on illegal immigration in the Nov. 5 presidential election, with former President Donald Trump set to face Democratic candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris. America First Legal and its leader, Trump adviser Stephen Miller, co-counseled the lawsuit, calling the program 'brazenly unlawful.' The White House has yet to comment.

Texas has a history of legal conflicts with the Biden administration over immigration. Recently, a federal appeals court allowed Texas to keep a floating barrier in the Rio Grande River meant to block migrants crossing illegally from Mexico.

(With inputs from agencies.)