In June of this year, President Biden announced a new executive order establishing a more streamlined process for undocumented immigrants who are married to American citizens to apply to become Legal Permanent Residents. This new policy expands eligibility to what is known as Parole in Place and allows qualifying immigrants who are applying for a green card to not have to leave the country to receive their visa. As a part of this executive order, some undocumented children of the couple may also qualify.

USCIS started accepting applications on August 19, but on August 26, a lawsuit was filed, and a U.S. District Court placed an administrative stay on the program that has been extended with no clear end date. This means the people can keep applying for Parole in Place, but no applications are currently being processed, and it is not clear if the program will ever resume processing and granting Parole in Place under the new executive order.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security estimates that 500,000 noncitizen spouses of U.S. citizens and 50,000 noncitizen stepchildren of U.S. citizens could be eligible for Parole in Place, and on average, these noncitizens have resided in the United States for 23 years.

The ongoing court challenges to this policy are deeply frustrating but follow a similar path as most attempts at immigration policy. Families seeking stability and security find themselves in limbo, unable to move forward, while legal battles continue to disrupt any meaningful progress.

Currently, almost every executive action, proposed policy change, or legislation on immigration faces relentless opposition, creating an environment of uncertainty and despair. This cycle of litigation not only stalls vital relief for families but also underscores a broader systemic failure to prioritize the well-being of those affected by these policies. The emotional toll is significant, as families are left waiting, again, for any truly meaningful change.