Judge strikes down Biden plan to help undocumented spouses of US citizens

Immigration advocates say ruling could separate families for years, while Mexico vows to continue measures to stop migrants from reaching US border

A federal judge has struck down a Biden administration policy that aimed to ease a path to citizenship for some undocumented immigrants who are married to US citizens.

The program, lauded as one of the biggest presidential actions to help immigrant families in years, allowed undocumented spouses and stepchildren of US citizens to apply for a green card, the right to permanent legal residency, without first having to leave the country.