Featured Issue: Executive Actions to Promote Family Unity
On November 13, 2024, USCIS posted the following alert:
ALERT: On November 7, 2024, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas in State of Texas v. Department of Homeland Security, Case Number 24-cv-306 (E.D.T.X. Nov. 7, 2024) issued a final judgment vacating the Keeping Families Together (KFT) parole process, published at 89 Fed. Reg. 67,459 (Aug. 20, 2024).
Effective immediately, USCIS is taking the following steps to comply with the Court’s Order:
- Pending Form I-131F applications will not be adjudicated and intake of new Form I-131F applications will cease.
- Anyone with a future Application Support Center appointment in support of a filed Form I-131F should consider that appointment cancelled immediately. Anyone who appears for such an appointment will be turned away.
- External engagements on the KFT parole process are cancelled.
In the coming days, USCIS will publish additional information on how it will handle pending cases and paid application fees.
As of August 21, 2024, reports of approvals of Form I-131F, Application for Parole in Place for Certain Noncitizen Spouses and Stepchildren of U.S. Citizens have started to appear. At this time, it appears that these approvals are for applicants who already had reusable biometrics on file. For information on the next steps after receiving approval, please see this AILA practice pointer: Practice Pointer: Applying for the Keeping Families Together Parole-in-Place Program.
At the bottom of this page, you can browse AILA’s complete collection of documents and resources related to this program.
Visit our other featured issue page on affirmative relief changes for DACA recipients and other Dreamers for information and resources on those changes.
Browse the Featured Issue: Executive Actions to Promote Family Unity collection
Filing Guide for Keeping Families Together PIP Process
USCIS provided a Filing Guide for Form I-131F, Application for Parole in Place for Certain Noncitizen Spouses and Stepchildren of U.S. citizens. Form I-131F can only be filed online and a separate form must be filed for each person seeking parole in place (PIP).
Practice Alert: DHS Reaching Out to Individuals with Pending I-601As
On August 15, 2024, DHS sent text and email alerts to some individuals who may be eligible to apply for the new family unity parole program which opens for applications on Monday, August 19.
Practice Alert: Parole-in-Place Federal Register Notice Not Expected Until Closer to August 19
AILA provides this practice alert regarding the expected timeline for publication of the Family Unity Parole-in-Place Federal Register notice and shares available resources on the new program.
Join the Conversation About Executive Actions to Promote Family Unity and Help Dreamers
AILA has created a listserv open to any interested AILA members to raise questions or concerns and discuss these announcements. You can join by going into My AILA on AILA's website and adding a new listserv.
USCIS Issues Reminders About New Parole-in-Place Program
USCIS issued a reminder that it will start accepting applications on August 19. Applications submitted earlier will be rejected. USCIS also included a list of evidence that could be gathered now.
White House Releases Fact Sheet Announcing Additional Actions and Guidance on Affirmative Relief
The White House released additional details related to its June 18, 2024, announcements on a new process to help U.S. citizens with noncitizen spouses and children, as well as additional announcements for DACA recipients, and more.
USCIS Issues Guidance on the Process to Promote the Unity and Stability of Families
USCIS provides guidance on the new parole-in-place process to consider, on a case-by-case basis, requests for certain noncitizen spouses of U.S. citizens who have been continuously physically present without admission or parole in the United States for 10 years or more.
CMS Finds Parole-in-Place Will Benefit 455,000 U.S. Families
The Center for Migration Studies of New York (CMS) estimates that President Biden’s decision to extend parole-in-place to the undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens who entered the country without inspection is a significant step in strengthening American families and the US economy. Learn more.
Watch the Recording: The President’s Executive Actions Promoting Family Unity and Dreamers
Watch this free recording of AILA leadership, staff, and experts discussing the President’s announcement on using parole-in-place to promote family unity and leveraging INA 212(d)(3) waivers for U.S. college-educated DACA recipients and Dreamers.
Practice Pointer: The Biden Administration’s Parole-in-Place Program for Certain Spouses and Stepchildren of U.S. Citizens
The Biden Administration recently announced an expansion of the existing parole-in-place program. AILA’s Military Committee provides a resource to assist members in understanding key differences between the program and what we know thus far about the new process.
White House Fact Sheet: New Immigration Actions: Support for Families and Streamlined Work Visas
The White House provides a fact sheet on President Biden’s new actions, including the ability for long-term noncitizen spouses and children of U.S. citizens to apply for permanent residency without leaving the U.S. and a streamlined process for work visas for U.S. college grads and Dreamers.
Fact Sheet: The Biden Administration’s Parole-In-Place Announcement
The American Immigration Council provides a fact sheet about the Biden Administrations Parole-in-Place announcement, which aims to help mixed-status families stay together and avoid bureaucratic traps.
Biden Announces Immigration Protections for Up to 550,000 Spouses and Children of U.S. Citizens
On the Immigration Impact blog, the American Immigration discusses the Biden Administration announcement of two major new policies to help streamline paths to legal status for certain long-time undocumented immigrants and highlights their potential impact.
DHS Statement on the Biden-Harris Administration’s Actions to Keep American Families Together
The DHS secretary issued a statement on the Biden-Harris Administration’s actions to keep American families together and to streamline a pathway for Dreamers to access waivers relating to high-skilled labor visas for which they are qualified.
AILA Applauds Announcement of Life-Changing Protections for Undocumented Spouses of U.S. Citizens and Dreamers
AILA applauded the Biden Administration’s announcement of executive actions to provide protections and work authorization for some undocumented spouses and children of U.S. citizens and Dreamers with comments from President Kelli Stump and Executive Director Ben Johnson.
What We Know about a Potential “Parole in Place” Program
Recent news stories have reported that the Biden Administration is weighing potential executive actions that could provide temporary legal status and work permits to undocumented immigrants who are married to U.S. citizens. The purpose of this video is to emphasize that no plans have been released.
Parole in Place Local Best Practices
The implementation of Parole in Place (PIP) at the local level has led to different local practices related to the filing and adjudication of parole requests. This advisory from AILA’s PPC provides key practices at USCIS field offices and connects attorneys with AILA PIP advisors for these offices.