News
Texas Court Temporarily Blocks Biden’s Immigration Policy for Spouses of U.S. Citizens
A Texas court has issued a temporary halt to a key immigration policy aimed at easing the process for spouses of U.S. citizens to obtain legal status. The ruling marks a significant setback for one of President Joe Biden’s major immigration reform initiatives.
The order, delivered by Judge Campbell Barker, imposes a 14-day administrative stay following a lawsuit filed by Republican attorneys general from 16 U.S. states.
These states are challenging the legality of the Biden administration’s policy, which was introduced in June to streamline pathways to legal residency for an estimated half a million immigrants married to U.S. citizens.
Biden’s policy sought to simplify the immigration process for spouses by eliminating the requirement for applicants to leave the United States during the process.
Instead, those who already meet the qualifications for permanent residency would be allowed to stay in the country, reducing the risks and hardships that could arise from temporary separation.
The new rules specifically apply to immigrants who have lived in the U.S. for at least ten years and are married to American citizens before June 17, 2024. It also extends to an estimated 50,000 stepchildren of U.S. citizens.
Those eligible under this policy would receive work authorization and temporary legal status for up to three years, allowing them to stay in the country while applying for a green card—a critical step toward achieving full U.S. citizenship.
However, the 16 states challenging the policy argue that it places a financial burden on their resources, including healthcare, education, and law enforcement services used by immigrants.
They claim that the new regulations would result in millions of dollars in costs to state public services, intensifying the legal debate over the reform.
The court’s decision to temporarily block the policy is seen as a significant obstacle for Biden’s immigration agenda, and the legal battle is expected to continue as both sides prepare for further hearings.
News
Analyst Says Tinubu Not Responsible for Recent U.S.-Linked Airstrike Claims
Nigerian news analyst, Mahmud Jega, has shared his opinion on the recent airstrike carried out by the United States in Nigeria, stating that Nigerians should not blame President Bola Tinubu for the incident.
Jega made this statement during a recent interview, where he said he does not believe many people will hold the Tinubu administration responsible, as Donald Trump had issued threats against Nigeria long before Tinubu’s administration.
“No, I don’t think many people will blame the Tinubu administration for what is happening now because President Donald Trump, when he first made the threats, it was clearly not in coordination with the Tinubu administration or the government of Nigeria,” Jega said.
News
United States Launches Airstrike on ISIS Targets in Northwest Nigeria
It has been reported that the United States carried out an airstrike targeting ISIS in the northwest region of Nigeria. The order was reportedly given by former U.S. President Donald Trump.
“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS terrorist elements in northwest Nigeria,” Trump said.
He added, “I have previously warned these terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was.”
News
Federal Government Declares Holidays as the Festive Season Draws Near
The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially declared the holiday dates for the festive season.
Thursday, December 25 will be observed as Christmas Day, December 26 as Boxing Day, and Thursday, January 1 as New Year’s Day.
The declaration was made by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Magdalene Ajani. He also added that Nigerians should celebrate the holidays in faith and pray for the nation.
