LOUISIANA — Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has successfully secured a temporary administrative stay against the Biden-Harris administration’s ‘parole in place’ policy, halting its implementation while legal proceedings continue.
On August 23, 2024 Murrill joined Texas and 15 other states in a lawsuit against the administration and the Department of Homeland Security, challenging a rule that would allow thousands of undocumented immigrants to remain in the U.S. while applying for permanent residency through a U.S. citizen family member.
According to the lawsuit, federal law generally prohibits undocumented immigrants from obtaining permanent residency without first leaving the country and being lawfully re-admitted.
The plaintiffs argue that the Biden-Harris administration’s policy, which could impact 1.3 million undocumented immigrants, unlawfully circumvents these legal requirements by broadening the use of parole authority beyond what Congress intended.
Murrill emphasized that Louisiana would be significantly burdened by the policy, citing the financial costs associated with providing public services, including education, healthcare, and welfare benefits, to paroled and undocumented immigrants.
The state is home to approximately 70,000 undocumented immigrants, costing taxpayers over $362 million annually. The Migration Policy Institute estimates that 7,000 individuals in Louisiana could be eligible for the parole program.
In her statement, Murrill criticized the administration, stating, “The people of Louisiana continue to suffer because the Biden-Harris administration refuses to perform its constitutional duty to secure our country.” She argued that the policy incentivizes further illegal immigration and undermines the rule of law.
Louisiana is joined in the lawsuit by Texas, Idaho, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Wyoming.
