Seven program sponsors win case defending the freedom to welcome loved ones and global neighbors under the “CHNV” humanitarian parole program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 8, 2024
VICTORIA, TX — The federal district court for the Southern District of Texas ruled against states today in Texas v. DHS, a lawsuit that attempted to curtail the Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela Humanitarian Parole program. The court found that states lacked standing to sue. Below are statements from attorneys from Justice Action Center, RAICES, and the Center for Immigration Law and Policy (CILP) at the UCLA School Law, who represent the defendant-intervenors:
“Today’s decision is a victory for the millions of everyday Americans who have sought the freedom to welcome friends, family, and global neighbors through sponsorship in the CHNV program. The courageous seven intervenors who joined this case to defend our fundamental values while centering directly impacted communities made all the difference in the courtroom and beyond. They exemplify the public’s willingness and enthusiasm to support migrants facing dangerous humanitarian crises and other challenges,” said Karen Tumlin, Founder and Director of Justice Action Center.
“Not only did Texas fail to prove it was harmed by this program, this decision also demonstrates the exact opposite: the CHNV parole program confers immeasurable benefits to people, families, and communities across the country. Today’s decision is a victory for the 1.5 million people who have jumped at the opportunity to sponsor loved ones under this program, and it is a critical repudiation of Texas’s attempt to hold immigration policy hostage for the entire country,” said Monika Y. Langarica, Senior Staff Attorney at the Center for Immigration Law and Policy at UCLA School of Law.
“Individuals across the U.S. maintain the freedom to welcome and to make families and communities whole. We celebrate today’s decision to uphold the CHNV humanitarian parole program as lawful and just, and we recognize the ruling to be a powerful reminder that no state can unilaterally bypass federal law in furtherance of its own policy objectives,” said Javier Hidalgo, Legal Director at RAICES.
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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 immigrant, refugee, and asylum-seeking people and families. Learn more at raicestexas.org.