By Ted Hesson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Texas and a coalition of Republican-led states on Friday sued President Joe Biden’s administration over a new program that offers a path to citizenship for immigrants in the U.S. illegally who are married to U.S. citizens.
The lawsuit argues the program, which began accepting applications on Monday, oversteps the administration’s legal authority to grant relief to immigrants who entered the country illegally and circumvents the intent of U.S. immigration laws.
The initiative, called Keeping Families Together, provides a path to citizenship to an estimated 500,000 immigrant spouses who entered the U.S. illegally and have at least 10 years of residence. Without this option, many would need to leave the U.S. for years before being able to return legally.
Republicans have made illegal immigration a central focus of the Nov. 5 presidential election where former President Donald Trump, a Republican will face off against the Democratic candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris.
(Reporting by Ted Hesson in Washington; Editing by David Gregorio)
