Hispanic Federation
For Immediate Release: Wednesday, August 28, 2024
Contact: media@hispanicfederation.org
Hispanic Federation’s Statement on the U.S. District Court for Texas’s Eastern District decision to issue a Temporary Administrative Stay for the Parole-in-Place program:
NEW YORK—Hispanic Federation President and CEO Frankie Miranda released the following statement in response to the U.S. District Court for Texas’s Eastern District issuing a Temporary Administrative Stay for the Parole-in-Place program:
“Hispanic Federation is outraged by the Court’s inhumane decision to issue a temporary administrative stay for the parole-in-place program launched by the Biden administration. As someone who knows exactly what it is like to be separated from loved ones due to inconsistent immigration policies, it’s clear that this is an attack on immigrant families and the American value of justice.
Last week, sixteen states led by Texas filed a lawsuit challenging the policy, demanding it be brought to an end. In response, last night, August 26, the U.S. District Court for Texas’s Eastern District announced a temporary administrative stay of the policy to allow the federal government and the suing states to prepare their cases. During this period, the federal government may continue to accept applications under the PIP/KFT protocol, but no further approvals under the process may be granted.
There is no place for politics over policy when it comes to Keeping Families Together: the court’s decision is unacceptable and harmful. The Parole in Place Program is a life-changing opportunity for so many families of American citizens living in fear.
For years, the Biden-Harris administration has tried to push humane immigration policies through Congress that would begin to fix our broken immigration system. Yet, this action comes after decades of our immigrant brothers and sisters, their families, and their communities have received absolutely nothing from Congress. Despite numerous efforts by many who understand the importance of passing humane immigration policies, politics, grandstanding, and showboating have once again come in the way of real action.
Two months ago, the Biden-Harris administration announced upcoming changes to immigration procedures that will enable certain noncitizen spouses and children to apply for lawful permanent resident status without leaving the country as part of a growing initiative “to keep families together.” In turn, hundreds of thousands of conscientious, productive community and family members could attain a legal status that aligns with the lives they already lead.
The new procedures went into effect on August 19, and already hundreds of applications have been approved. These are integral members of our society – spouses, stepchildren, parents, teachers, nurses, and neighbors – whose ability to maintain the lives they’ve led for ten years or more years is only for the public benefit. Starting on August 19th, HF and nine partner organizations across the country ensured that as many people as possible had the support necessary to benefit from this historic opportunity. In one week, we processed nearly 200 applications, but just as this good work was getting started, it came under attack by a short-sighted review prioritizing political arguments over familial necessity.
The willingness to entertain – even at “first-blush” – the argument that a program enabling decade-long residents of this country to remain in their communities could constitute “harm” to the states in which they abide is not rooted in facts or data. HF strongly believes that a balanced consideration of the facts will demonstrate the clear, societal good that will emerge from this policy to validate communities that already exist, enabling the Court to fully reinstate the initiative.
When the time comes, we look forward to continuing the work of our PIP clinics to bring this compassionate, fair, and humane policy further to fruition and work tirelessly to keep families together.”
About Hispanic Federation:
Hispanic Federation (HF) is a nonprofit membership and advocacy organization, founded in 1990, committed to empowering and advancing the Hispanic community, with a focus on low-income, marginalized, and immigrant Latinos. With programs in 40 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia, HF’s focus areas include immigration, economic empowerment, civic engagement, disaster relief, philanthropy, education, health, and the environment. HF also maintains ongoing public education campaigns and meets the organizational development needs of its member agencies through grant-making and capacity-building assistance.
