Republican-led states are taking legal action against the Biden administration over a controversial parole program that provides protection from deportation to illegal immigrants married to U.S. citizens. The states, led by Texas and America First Legal, are suing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) over the “parole in place” rule announced in June.
The rule allows certain illegal immigrant spouses of U.S. citizens to apply for humanitarian parole and a path to permanent residency without leaving the country. However, the states argue that this violates federal law, which prohibits illegal immigrants from obtaining immigration benefits without first leaving the country and being readmitted.
The coalition of states claims that the new process could potentially benefit over 1.3 million illegal immigrants, far more than the estimated 500,000 that DHS predicts will be affected. They argue that the rule circumvents laws created by Congress that restrict the use of parole to specific cases.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton stated, “Biden’s new parole workaround unilaterally grants the opportunity for citizenship to unvetted aliens whose first act on American soil was to break our laws. This violates the Constitution and actively worsens the illegal immigration disaster that is hurting Texas and our country.”
America First Legal President Stephen Miller called the rule “brazenly unlawful” and emphasized the organization’s commitment to fighting against the Biden administration’s immigration policies.
The Biden administration’s use of parole has sparked controversy among Republicans, with concerns about potential fraud and abuse in the system. The CHNV program, which allowed thousands of nationals from certain countries to enter the U.S., was recently halted due to reports of fraudulent activity.
The lawsuit filed by the coalition of states, including Texas, Idaho, Alabama, and others, seeks to block the implementation of the parole program and uphold existing immigration laws. The legal battle highlights the ongoing debate over immigration policy and enforcement in the United States.
