Judge Blocks Biden’s “Keeping Families Together” Program Indefinitely, Administration Appeals

A federal judge has indefinitely blocked President Biden’s “Keeping Families Together” immigration program following a lawsuit led by Texas and other states. This program aimed to allow noncitizen spouses and children of U.S. citizens to apply for lawful permanent residence without leaving the United States. Here’s a breakdown of the legal challenge, the court’s ruling, and the administration’s response.

The Lawsuit: Key Elements Of The Court’s Ruling to halt the “Keeping Families Together” program

On September 10, 2024, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction halting the program.  In the court’s decision, the judge agreed with the states’ arguments that the Bident Administration did not comply with rulemaking procedures under Administrative Procedures Act (APA) when implementing the new program and that states could suffer financial harm by increasing the number of individuals eligible for state-funded services.  By issuing the injunction, the court also concluded that the states are likely to succeed on the merits of the case when the lawsuit is fully litigated.

The Appeal: Administration’s Response

The Biden administration responded to the ruling by filing an appeal, arguing that the plaintiffs’ claims of financial harm were unsupported. The administration presented data showing that since implementing the parole pathways, illegal immigration from countries like Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela had significantly decreased. This, they argued, reduced costs for states like Texas by decreasing illegal crossings and the associated financial strain .

Additionally, the appeal emphasized that individuals in the program are vetted and required to have financial sponsors, further mitigating any potential burden on state services. As such, the administration argued that the program helped reduce costs rather than increasing them.

Conclusion

The preliminary injunction places the “Keeping Families Together” program on hold indefinitely, leaving its future uncertain as the legal battle continues. The Biden administration’s appeal challenges the claims of financial harm and defends the program as a necessary step to streamline immigration and reduce illegal crossings. We will continue to provide updates as the case progresses through the courts.