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The newspaper La Jornada
Saturday, August 24, 2024, p. 22

Washington. Sixteen Republican-governed states filed a lawsuit yesterday seeking to halt a federal program that offers a path to citizenship to nearly half a million immigrants who are married to Americans and who do not have legal immigration status.

The coalition objects to the program launched by President Joe Biden in June, arguing that the government bypassed Congress to create a naturalization mechanism with blatant political ends. This action encourages illegal migration and will irreparably harm the requesting states.alleges the complaint filed in federal court in Tyler, Texas. Under the new program, which went into effect Monday, many undocumented spouses can apply for a temporary residence permit, then legal residence for migrants and, ultimately, their naturalization.

The program was particularly controversial in an election year in which the flow of undocumented immigrants is one of the main issues, and many Republicans have criticized it by claiming that it is a form of amnesty for people who have broken the law.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement yesterday that the plan violates the Constitution and actively worsens the disaster of illegal immigration affecting Texas and our countryThe lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, Department Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and other Biden administration officials accuses the agency of trying to grant permits en masse, which is an abuse of authorityAmerica First Legal, led by Stephen Miller, a former adviser to President Donald Trump, is acting as legal counsel in the lawsuit.

Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Mayra Alejandra said the agency is still processing applications that have already been submitted.