Amid the ongoing border crisis, Republican-led states file suit against the Biden administration's "Keeping Families Together" parole policy, while experts and lawmakers raise concerns about its potential impact on marriage fraud and illegal immigration.
Former acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf has criticized President Biden's executive action on immigration as "too little, too late," arguing that it fails to adequately address the ongoing border crisis. Wolf's comments come as the Biden administration faces legal challenges from Republican-led states and criticism from GOP lawmakers over its parole program for illegal immigrants.
Sixteen Republican-led states, led by Texas and America First Legal, have filed a lawsuit to block the Biden administration's "parole in place" rule, which allows humanitarian parole and a path to permanent residency for certain illegal immigrant spouses of U.S. citizens without requiring them to leave the country. The states argue that the rule violates federal law and undermines the established processes for obtaining immigration benefits.
Biden's Immigration Executive Action Slammed as Inadequate Amid Border Crisis
The "parole in place" program allows noncitizen spouses who have lived in the U.S. for 10 years and meet certain criteria to apply for permanent residency. It is estimated to affect approximately 500,000 illegal immigrants. However, the coalition of states claims that it would actually benefit over 1.3 million individuals, violating Congressional laws that restrict the use of parole to case-by-case determinations.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton accused the Biden administration of violating the Constitution and turning the U.S. into a "nation without borders" by allowing citizenship for unvetted aliens who have broken the law upon entering the country. Stephen Miller of America First Legal called the rule "brazenly unlawful" and a harmful "accelerant to the ruinous border invasion."
Biden's Immigration Executive Action Slammed as Inadequate Amid Border Crisis
In response to the lawsuit, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has promised to defend the "Keeping Families Together" policy in court, arguing that it is grounded in legal authority and enables families of U.S. citizens to live without fear of separation. DHS continues to process applications and maintain that the policy aligns with American values.
Republican lawmakers have expressed concerns about the potential for increased marriage fraud under the new policy. They argue that it could incentivize individuals to enter sham marriages to gain immigration benefits, further complicating the immigration system.
Biden's Immigration Executive Action Slammed as Inadequate Amid Border Crisis
The Biden administration's use of parole has drawn criticism from Republicans. The administration is paroling up to 1,450 individuals per day at ports of entry through the CBP One app and allowing 30,000 nationals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to enter the U.S. monthly via a separate program.
The CHNV program, which provided sponsorship for migrants entering the U.S., was recently halted after an internal report discovered significant fraud among those applying to be supporters. The Biden administration's use of parole is raising questions about the potential for similar fraudulent practices in the new immigration policies.
Biden's Immigration Executive Action Slammed as Inadequate Amid Border Crisis
DHS has not immediately responded to requests for comment regarding the lawsuit.
