Federal Judge Dismisses Texas Lawsuit Seeking to Shut Down Biden’s Migrant Sponsorship Program
A federal judge in Texas has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Republican officials that aimed to shut down a federal program allowing hundreds of thousands of migrants to fly to U.S. airports. The judge’s decision preserves the Biden administration’s immigration agenda and keeps intact a policy that has become central to their strategy.
The lawsuit focused on a Biden administration program that permits up to 30,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to enter the U.S. each month if they have American financial sponsors. These migrants are granted two-year work permits under a humanitarian parole authority known as the sponsorship program. President Biden has utilized this program at an unprecedented scale, arguing that it deters individuals from these crisis-stricken countries from attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally.
Texas officials contended that the program exceeded the limits set by Congress for legal immigration and violated the intended purpose of the humanitarian parole authority. However, U.S. District Court Judge Drew Tipton ruled that Texas lacked the legal standing to sue over the policy, as they failed to demonstrate any injury caused by it. The judge did not rule on the claims made by Texas regarding the legality of the federal initiative.
According to internal Department of Homeland Security data obtained by CBS News, over 365,000 individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela have arrived in the U.S. under the sponsorship program as of February 8th. Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, both vocal critics of President Biden’s immigration policies, have not yet responded to the judge’s decision. Texas does have the option to appeal Tipton’s order.
The survival of the sponsorship program is seen as a significant legal victory for the Biden administration. They have sought to combine legal migration pathways with stricter asylum rules to address the unprecedented levels of migrant crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border. The success of this program has caught the attention of other countries facing similar challenges of irregular migration, as stated by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
The White House also expressed satisfaction with Judge Tipton’s decision. They highlighted the program’s success in expanding lawful pathways for individuals from these countries, reducing the number of illegal border crossings. The ruling came as a surprise, given that Tipton, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, had previously ruled against other immigration rules implemented by the Biden administration.
Customs and Border Protection statistics support the claim that illegal border crossings by migrants from Cuba, Haiti, and Nicaragua have significantly decreased since the sponsorship program’s announcement. However, the number of illegal crossings by Venezuelans has fluctuated, occasionally experiencing spikes. Venezuela has witnessed a mass exodus of over 7.7 million people due to economic collapse and political turmoil, making it the largest displaced population globally.
Advocates for migrants from Haiti and other countries have praised the sponsorship program, calling it a lifeline for those in extreme need. Guerline Jozef, executive director of the Haitian Bridge Alliance, emphasized its importance in providing a way for individuals from Haiti, Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua to escape dire circumstances and seek a better life in the United States.
In conclusion, Judge Tipton’s dismissal of the Texas lawsuit against the Biden administration’s sponsorship program ensures the continuation of a policy that has proved effective in curbing unlawful border crossings. The program’s success in offering legal pathways for migrants from crisis-stricken countries has garnered attention both domestically and internationally. While challenges remain, this ruling represents a step forward in addressing the complex issue of immigration along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Camilo Montoya-Galvez
Immigration Reporter at CBS News
