After a federal court ruled to uphold the “CHNV” parole program, attorneys and defendants discuss the critical win for everyday people defending the freedom to welcome loved ones and global neighbors to the U.S.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 11, 2024
VICTORIA, TX – On Monday, March 11, 2024, attorneys from Justice Action Center, RAICES, and the Center for Immigration Law and Policy (CILP) at the UCLA School Law, hosted a press conference following a federal court decision Friday in Texas v. DHS to uphold the Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela Humanitarian Parole program, a victory for the seven program sponsors who intervened in the case to defend their freedom to welcome friends, family and global neighbors seeking safety and stability in the United States.
The federal district court for the Southern District of Texas ruled against Texas and 20 Republican-led states who challenged the parole program and found that they lacked standing to sue. The CHNV parole program — one of the few remaining safe, legal pathways to the United States — has already allowed hundreds of thousands of families and friends to reunite, including Dr. Germán Cadenas, one defendant who welcomed his uncle to the U.S. last year.
Please find a recording of the call HERE and quotes from speakers below. Please reach out to tasha.moro@justiceactioncenter.org if you would like to schedule a follow-up interview with attorneys or intervenors about this lawsuit.
“This is what justice truly looks like, and I think it speaks not only for the benefit of the program, individually to many of us, but also to the community as a whole,” said Dr. Germán Cadenas, CHNV sponsor and defendant intervenor. “Immigrants are a huge benefit to the country, to the U.S., and we’re not here to harm anyone. We’re really here to contribute to this country and to live with more dignity and have opportunities to be together with families.”
“Friday’s order is a victory for people like Germán and all of our clients, and an incredible win for tens of thousands of people who will continue to be able to benefit from this program, and thus access safety and stability in the United States,” said Monika Y. Langarica, Senior Staff Attorney of the Center for Immigration Law and Policy, UCLA School of Law. “We want to be clear that we believe the trial record in this case not only proves that Texas was not harmed by the program, but as Germán and the other intervenors can attest to, the program actually confers immense benefits to people and communities all across the United States.This includes benefits like family reunification, free exercise of religion, access to safety and stability, and opportunities to boost local economies here in the United States.”
“This decision is very important in sending the message that these attempts [by states to bypass federal authority] are ultimately going to fail under the law,” said Javier Hidalgo, Legal Director of RAICES. “It’s an ongoing fight, and I’m really glad for the opportunity that we got to work with these courageous intervenors because it made this [win] possible. The stories that they were able to tell made it possible for this particular attempt to get stopped in its tracks.”
“The decision on Friday serves as an important legal check on the effort by Texas to use the judiciary to achieve what it could not achieve at the ballot box,” said Karen Tumlin, Founder and Director of Justice Action Center. “While Texas’ next legal move remains to be seen, one thing is clear: There are millions of people like Germán who are ready to share their homes, their time and resources with those who want a shot at coming to the United States. President Biden’s signature immigration program just got a legal green light, and he should not shy away from expanding it now.”
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Justice Action Center (JAC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting for greater justice for immigrant communities by combining litigation and storytelling. JAC is committed to bringing additional litigation resources to address unmet needs, empower clients, and change the corrosive narrative around immigrants in the U.S.
Founded in 2020, the Center for Immigration Law and Policy (CILP) at the UCLA School of Law expands the law school’s role as a national leader in immigration law and policy, generating innovative ideas at the intersection of immigration scholarship and practice and serving as a hub for transforming those ideas into meaningful changes in immigration policy.
RAICES, formally known as the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Headquartered in Texas and with national reach, RAICES promotes migrant justice by providing legal services, social services case management, and rights advocacy for immigrants, asylum seekers, and refugees. Learn more at raicestexas.org.