Bad News As 16-State Coalition Files Suit Aiming to Blow the Whistle on Biden’s Amnesty Plan
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A coalition of 16 states, spearheaded by Texas, has filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration, seeking to block a new amnesty initiative announced by President Joe Biden.
As reported by The Highland County Press on Saturday, August 24, 2024, this legal action comes just two months after Biden unveiled his plan to expedite citizenship for foreign nationals residing illegally in the U.S. for over a decade, specifically targeting those married to U.S. citizens.
The Biden administration’s “Keeping Families Together” program, implemented this week by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), allows certain undocumented spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens to apply for “parole in place” (PIP) status.
According to DHS, PIP status aims to promote family unity, bolster economic prosperity, strengthen international relations, and enhance national security.
However, critics argue that this program circumvents existing laws and violates the Constitution.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, accuses the administration of unlawfully bypassing federal statutes that prevent undocumented immigrants from gaining permanent residency benefits without first leaving the country.
The coalition argues that the program effectively provides a new pathway to citizenship for over 1.3 million undocumented individuals, which is not legally permissible under current immigration laws.
Joining Texas in the lawsuit are the attorneys general of Idaho, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Wyoming.
These states contend that the PIP program will cause them significant harm, citing potential increases in taxpayer costs associated with public services, including Medicaid, education, and law enforcement.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton criticized the program, stating, “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. This violates the Constitution and exacerbates the illegal immigration crisis affecting Texas and the nation.”
The coalition’s complaint includes data from the Migration Policy Institute, estimating the number of undocumented foreign nationals married to U.S. citizens in each state.
Texas leads with approximately 204,000 individuals, followed by Florida with 93,000. Other states, including Georgia, Ohio, and Tennessee, have smaller but significant numbers of potential beneficiaries.
DHS maintains that the program, which began on August 19, is aligned with the fundamental goal of U.S. immigration policy to support family unity.
The legal battle over this program highlights ongoing tensions over immigration reform and the scope of executive authority in shaping immigration policy.
