Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has secured a final judgment that blocks the Biden-Harris Administration's "parole in place" immigration policy. Paxton led a coalition of 16 states in challenging the policy, which would have allowed over a million undocumented immigrants a path to U.S. citizenship. The court ruled that the policy did not meet the legal requirements set by Congress, according to the Texas Attorney General.
The lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security was filed on August 23 by Paxton and America First Legal. It challenges the DHS's decision to grant "parole in place" to many immigrants unlawfully in the U.S., which could allow them to obtain permanent residency and citizenship without leaving the country. Federal law typically requires these individuals to return to their home countries and apply through an embassy or consulate before adjusting their status, as reported by the Texas Attorney General.
On August 27, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton obtained a temporary stay on the "parole in place" policy. A federal district court has now permanently blocked the rule, finding that the Biden-Harris administration did not have the legal authority to grant "parole in place" to the individuals covered by the policy. The court has prohibited the federal government from enforcing the rule. "Once again we have stopped the Biden-Harris Administration’s radical attempts to destroy America’s borders and undermine the rule of law," Paxton stated. He implied a return to legal conformity, saying, "I look forward to the day when the federal government starts following the law again," as stated by the Texas Attorney General.
America First Legal's Executive Director, Gene Hamilton, echoed Paxton's sentiments, criticizing the administration's handling of immigration and border security. Hamilton commended the efforts led by Texas and the other states involved, saying: "And today, the great State of Texas and the courageous Ken Paxton, alongside a coalition of other brave Attorneys General, succeeded in stopping an illegal program that would have provided amnesty to hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens and paved the path for the largest administrative amnesty in American history," as mentioned by the Texas Attorney General.