Washington D.C. – The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas has issued a final judgment blocking the Biden-Harris Administration’s “parole in place” (PIP) rule, which would have allowed certain undocumented immigrants to obtain permanent residency without leaving the United States. The decision comes in response to a lawsuit brought by a coalition of 16 states, including Alabama, challenging the legality of the policy.
The dismissed PIP program aimed to grant parole to undocumented immigrants who had been in the U.S. for at least a decade and who were spouses or stepchildren of U.S. citizens. This pathway would have permitted them to bypass traditional immigration procedures, including exiting and re-entering the country through a legal port of entry, as is typically required under federal law. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) defended the rule by asserting it held broad discretion over immigration matters.
The court disagreed, siding with the coalition of states, which argued that such a policy required congressional approval. The plaintiffs contended that the rule amounted to an unauthorized grant of mass amnesty, potentially benefiting over 1.3 million individuals.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall expressed strong approval of the decision, framing it as a victory for the rule of law. “It’s been a great week for America and the rule of law,” Marshall said. “The Biden-Harris regime did everything they could to circumvent or rewrite laws to fit their radical agenda, causing chaos at our border and in our backyards. The courts and Americans saw right through these nefarious plans.”
Marshall also emphasized his support for stricter immigration policies, noting his anticipation for “the bold leadership of President Trump” in the coming year.
The coalition that filed the lawsuit included Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Wyoming, and the legal advocacy group America First Legal.
The court’s ruling marks another setback for the Biden Administration’s immigration agenda, with opponents asserting that such policies overreach executive authority and undermine congressional intent. DHS has not yet announced whether it will appeal the decision.
