A Texas federal judge prevented the Biden administration’s repeal of the Trump-era “Remain in Mexico” policy on Thursday.

According to the judge’s order, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk placed a pause to the Biden administration’s decision to terminate the program. During court proceedings, certain illegal immigrants are forced to return to Mexico under the policy.

In June, the Supreme Court ruled that the Biden administration could terminate the policy. It was officially lifted in August.

“As Secretary Mayorkas stated, MPP has an endemic flaws and imposes unjustifiable personal costs and pulls resources away from other priority efforts for securing our border,” said the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Initial attempts by the Biden administration to end the policy during the first day of the president’s term were unsuccessful. This was quickly followed by lawsuits from Republican states.

This decision is made as federal border authorities face overwhelming levels of illegal migration. A record number of migrants were encountered in fiscal year 2022, and more are expected to be encountered with the ending of Title 42, a Trump-era expulsion policy. It will be ended on Dec. 21.