Attorney General Anne Lopez of Hawai'i has demonstrated an unwavering stance alongside a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general, aimed at protecting the humanitarian parole programs for immigrants who flee dangerous or untenable circumstances in their native lands. This pushback follows the Trump administration's executive order on January 20, which called for an abrupt end to these pathways, directly influencing the processing of new applications and bottlenecking the efforts of current parolees to adjust their immigration status. According to a statement obtained by the Governor of Hawai'i's Office, the coalition seeks a preliminary injunction to stop these recent federal actions that upend the stability of immigrant communities.
In the filed amicus brief, the attorneys general coalition expounds upon the detrimental effects that the termination of parole programs would inflict on immigrants who have worked legally towards residency. Significantly, this includes groups such as Afghans who risked their lives for U.S. interests and individuals from countries like Ukraine, Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela who seek safety from precarious conditions at home. The collective urged the court to swiftly act, aiming to prevent unnecessary disruptions to the lives of those looking to legally secure their place within the fabric of American society.
Hawai'i's Deputy Solicitor General Thomas Hughes has voiced considerable concern over the abrupt action, noting, "The state of Hawai‘i has been a major beneficiary of immigration and welcomes those who have followed lawful procedures to escape war, oppression and chaos in their home countries,” Hughes told the Governor of Hawai'i's Office. He also delineates how the suspension of parole programs carries significantly damaging implications for both the economies and social ecosystems of not just Hawai'i, but states nationwide. Immigrant communities make substantial contributions via state and local taxes as well as wielding considerable spending power, providing tangible benefits to their chosen locales.
The coalition's amicus brief argues that ending these immigration programs would not only revoke the status of current parolees but also block future applicants. This could harm families, prevent reunification, and expose parolees to the risk of deportation to unstable and dangerous countries. The goal is to protect these vulnerable individuals, whose stories are part of America's growing diversity, not put them at risk.
Attorney General Lopez and the coalition are backed by attorneys general from states including California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.
