Judge Upholds Biden Program Giving Some Immigrants Short-Term Legal Status
On Friday, March 8, 2024, a federal judge ruled to keep an immigration program in place that provides temporary legal status to certain citizens of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.
The Immigration Program
The Biden Administration implemented a program to give 360,000 people a year from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela the ability to live in the United States if they are supported by a financial sponsor, undergo security clearance, and meet other requirements.
The Court Decision
Texas and other Republican-led states claimed that their states were being negatively affected by the program and the influx of illegal migrants from these countries. The federal judge on the trial, Judge Tipton, noted that the amount of migrants coming in illegally into the United States from those countries has decreased, thus ruling that the states were not in fact negatively impacted and therefore did not have standing to bring suit. This decision keeps the program in place without changes.
Since the immigration program was implemented, the number of immigrants coming from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela has declined 44%. Reeves Immigration Law Group is pleased to see that this vital immigration program will continue for the next year.
How To Tell If You Are Eligible For Advance Travel Authorization
Applicants must meet certain criteria in order to be considered for an advance travel authorization. The USCIS policies outline the following requirements for potential beneficiaries. They must:
- Be outside the United States;
- Be a national of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, or Venezuela; or be an immediate family member (spouse, common-law partner, and/or unmarried child under the age of 21) who is traveling with an eligible Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, or Venezuelan;
- Have a U.S.-based supporter who filed a Form I-134A on their behalf that USCIS has vetted and confirmed;
- Possess an unexpired passport valid for international travel;
- Provide for their own commercial travel to an air U.S. POE and final U.S. destination;
- Undergo and pass required national security and public safety vetting;
- Comply with all additional requirements, including vaccination requirements and other public health guidelines; and
- Demonstrate that a grant of parole is warranted based on significant public benefit or urgent humanitarian reasons, and that a favorable exercise of discretion is otherwise merited.
Contact A California Immigration Attorney
Reeves Immigration Law Group assists immigrants and asylum seekers with their applications to stay in the U.S. We also have experience working on a breadth of deportation cases including defenses and appeals.
Reeves Immigration Law Group is here to help you navigate the U.S. immigration system. Our immigration attorneys provide personalized and results-oriented guidance to secure the most successful outcome for your immigration case. Our asylum lawyers are up-to-date with the latest policies and regulations. We work tirelessly to help all migrants and their families achieve their immigration goals.
To speak with a California immigration lawyer on your individual case, contact our law firm offices today.
