Immigration Crackdown Expected Under President-elect Trump
US Judge Rules Against Biden’s Programme for Immigrant Spouses
A US judge in Texas has ruled against President Joe Biden’s programme offering a path to citizenship for certain immigrant spouses of US citizens, a blow that could keep the programme blocked through Biden’s final months in office. US District Judge J Campbell Barker found the programme, which offers a path to citizenship to around 500,000 immigrants who entered the US illegally if they are married to US citizens, exceeded Biden’s executive authority.
Background on the Programme
The initiative, known as Keeping Families Together, launched in August but was blocked days later by Barker, who left it frozen while he considered a legal challenge brought by Texas and a coalition of US states with Republican attorneys general. Biden, a Democrat, announced the programme in June before dropping out of the presidential race and paving the way for vice-president Kamala Harris to face Republican Donald Trump, an immigration hardliner.
Trump’s Expected Immigration Crackdown
Trump defeated Harris in Tuesday’s election and is expected to launch a wide-ranging immigration crackdown that would likely include rolling back Biden’s initiative for immigrant spouses, which the Trump campaign called a “mass amnesty” that would encourage illegal immigration. Americans see immigration as the most pressing issue for Trump to address when he takes office in January, and a large majority believe he will order mass deportations of people living in the US illegally, a Reuters/Ipsos poll that closed on Thursday found.
Appeal Possible
The Biden administration could appeal Thursday’s court ruling. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Conclusion
The ruling against Biden’s programme is a significant blow to the administration’s efforts to provide a path to citizenship for certain immigrant spouses. With Trump expected to take office in January, it is likely that his administration will launch a wide-ranging immigration crackdown that could include rolling back this initiative. The Biden administration may appeal the ruling, but it remains to be seen what the outcome will be.
FAQs
* What is the Keeping Families Together programme?
The programme offers a path to citizenship to around 500,000 immigrants who entered the US illegally if they are married to US citizens.
* Why was the programme blocked?
The programme was blocked by a US judge in Texas who found that it exceeded Biden’s executive authority.
* What is President-elect Trump’s stance on immigration?
Trump has promised to launch a wide-ranging immigration crackdown that could include rolling back Biden’s initiative for immigrant spouses.
* Can the Biden administration appeal the ruling?
Yes, the Biden administration could appeal Thursday’s court ruling.