The “Parole in Place” or “Keeping Families Together” program will allow married people or stepchildren of US citizens to resolve their immigration status without having to leave the country.
This is a great relief for 500,000 families who are preparing their documents to present their cases that will be considered and evaluated one by one.
Although this program is in accordance with the law and is a pragmatic policy that prioritizes family unity, a founding value of American society, a federal judge in Texas suspended it on August 26, 2024 as a result of a lawsuit filed by the attorneys general of 16 states (TX, ID, AL, AR, FL, GA, IA, KS, LA, MO, ND, OH, SC, SD, TN, WY) and one non-governmental organization.
According to the plaintiffs, this is the number of families in the plaintiff States that will continue with the uncertainty of having to separate as a result of an action by their elected officials:
Texas
204,000
Louisiana
7,000
Idaho
4,000
Missouri
9,000
Alabama
7,000
North Dakota
?
Arkansas
6,000
Ohio
14,000
Florida
93,000
South Carolina
9,000
Georgia
34,000
South Dakota
?
Iowa
6,000
Tennessee
12,000
Kansas
9,000
Wyoming
?
Although the program is suspended, applications will continue to be received.
Source: Own elaboration based on https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/images/press/Parole%20in%20Place%20Complaint%20Filed.pdf