POLITICS: U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton, who was appointed during the Trump administration, recently ruled against Texas and 20 other Republican-led statesin a significant immigration case.
By Michelle Crawford-Sapenter
The case centered around a Biden administration program that permits up to 30,000 migrants seeking asylum from four countries (Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela) to enter the U.S. on an emergency basis each month.
The program, known as humanitarian parole, has been upheld by the court. Texas and the other states had argued that the program was forcing them to spend millions on healthcare, education, and public safety for the migrants. However, Judge Tipton concluded that the states had not demonstrated financial harm due to the program, which was necessary for them to have legal standing in the lawsuit. Importantly, the court’s ruling did not address the lawfulness of the program itself.
Eliminating this program would undermine a broader policy aimed at encouraging migrants to use the Biden administration’s preferred pathways into the U.S. or face consequences. Advocates for the federal government pointed out that migrants admitted through this policy have helped address U.S. farm labor shortages.
Since its launch in fall 2022, over 357,000 peoplefrom Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela have been granted parole and allowed to enter the U.S. Haitians have been the largest group using the program, followed by Venezuelans, Cubans, and Nicaraguans.
While an appeal by Texas and other states remains possible, for now, the program continues to provide a humanitarian avenue for those seeking refuge in the United States.
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