FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TYLER, TEXAS – Today, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas ruled against the Keeping Families Together (KFT) process, blocking thousands of eligible families from taking the first step to eventually seek permanent residence in the United States without risking prolonged separation. The court found that Texas has standing to challenge the process and vacated KFT as unlawful.
Eleven directly impacted individuals and Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) members represented by Justice Action Center (JAC) and Make the Road New York (MRNY) filed an amicus brief urging the court to consider the perspectives of the thousands of families who would have benefitted from Keeping Families Together. During a federal bench trial in Texas v. DHS on Tuesday, JAC attorney Laura Flores-Perilla argued that Texas did not have standing to sue, and that Keeping Families Together would advance family unity, which is also in the public interest.
“Despite our every effort to protect this process and ensure that families’ voices are centered in this litigation, the district court remained steadfast in its quest to end Keeping Families Together before it even got off the ground,” said Laura Flores-Perilla, Attorney with Justice Action Center. “Our fight does not end here. We remain committed to working towards a world where families can be together and safe.”
“Today’s decision is a deeply disappointing and unjust setback for the families who live every day under the weight of uncertainty,” Harold A. Solis, Co-Legal Director for Make The Road New York. “Keeping Families Together and everything it represents – family unity, opportunity and stability – is our immigration system at its best. We must and will continue to support family unity despite today’s dangerous decision.”
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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.
Make the Road New York (MRNY) builds the power of immigrant and working class communities to achieve dignity and justice through organizing, policy innovation, transformative education, and survival services. We have 27,000+ members and operate five community centers in Bushwick, Brooklyn; Jackson Heights, Queens; Port Richmond, Staten Island; Brentwood, Long Island; and White Plains, Westchester County.