Judge declares Biden immigration program for spouses of U.S. citizens illegal

A federal judge has struck down a Biden administration program that would allow unauthorized immigrants married to American citizens to get legal status and a streamlined path to citizenship. The judge declared the program illegal, agreeing with a lawsuit filed by Texas and other Republican-led states. The program, known as Keeping Families Together, aimed to promote family unity among mixed-status households, but the judge found it violated U.S. immigration law. The ruling is a setback for the Biden administration, and the program is likely to be targeted by the incoming Trump administration. The program would have provided work permits, deportation protections, and a path to permanent residency for eligible immigrants without requiring them to leave the country.