Biden's Border Crisis: Republican States Sue to Block Illegal Immigrant Parole Program

In a significant legal battle over immigration policy, sixteen Republican-led states are challenging the Biden administration's controversial "parole in place" program. The program grants protection from deportation and a path to permanent residency for certain illegal immigrant spouses of U.S. citizens without them having to leave the country.

Sixteen Republican-led states, led by Texas and America First Legal, have filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration to block a controversial parole program that could potentially provide protection from deportation and a path to permanent residency for over 1.3 million illegal immigrants.

Biden's Border Crisis: Republican States Sue to Block Illegal Immigrant Parole Program

The lawsuit claims that the "parole in place" rule announced in June by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) violates federal law, which prohibits illegal immigrants from obtaining immigration benefits without first leaving the country and being readmitted.

The plaintiffs argue that the rule unlawfully uses parole, which is typically limited to use on a "case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit."

Biden's Border Crisis: Republican States Sue to Block Illegal Immigrant Parole Program

The lawsuit argues that the program effectively creates a new pathway to a green card and eventual citizenship for illegal immigrants, circumventing processes established by Congress.

DHS has estimated that approximately 500,000 illegal immigrants would be eligible for the program, which requires them to have lived in the U.S. for 10 years as of June and meet certain criteria, including not posing a threat to public safety or national security.

Biden's Border Crisis: Republican States Sue to Block Illegal Immigrant Parole Program

However, the coalition of states contends that more than 1.3 million illegal immigrants could benefit from the program, violating laws that restrict the use of parole to a case-by-case determination.

"Under Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, the federal government is actively working to turn the United States into a nation without borders and a country without laws," said Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. "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."

Biden's Border Crisis: Republican States Sue to Block Illegal Immigrant Parole Program

Stephen Miller, president of America First Legal, called the rule "brazenly unlawful."

"We have sued time and again to fight their catastrophic policies. Today, we are proud to represent a coalition of 16 states in filing a lawsuit to block an unconstitutional Biden-Harris amnesty program," he said.

DHS has defended the program, stating that it is "grounded in well-established legal authority" and its purpose is "enabling the families of U.S. Citizens to live without fear of separation – is consistent with fundamental American values."

The Biden administration's use of parole has sparked controversy with Republicans, who argue that it is contributing to the border crisis. The administration has been paroling up to 1,450 migrants a day at ports of entry via the CBP One app and is allowing an additional 30,000 nationals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to enter the U.S. each month via a separate program.

The lawsuit represents a significant legal challenge to the Biden administration's immigration policies and is expected to face legal scrutiny in the coming months.