Immigration Parole Reform: Limiting Access and Defining Humanitarian Grounds
This Act significantly restricts the use of immigration parole, limiting it to specific, urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefits, defined narrowly within the law. Citizens should understand that this change makes it much harder for individuals to enter the U.S. temporarily outside of the normal visa process, even in emergencies. The law also introduces new rules regarding employment authorization and generally prohibits parole recipients from adjusting their status to permanent residency.
Key points
Parole Restriction: Immigration parole must be granted strictly on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit, explicitly prohibiting its use for entire classes of recipients.
Strict Definitions: The law provides precise definitions for 'urgent humanitarian reason' (e.g., life-threatening medical emergency, organ donation, attending a close family member's funeral) and 'significant public benefit' (limited primarily to assistance in law enforcement matters).
No Path to Green Card: Aliens granted parole (with exceptions for spouses/children of active-duty military and certain Cuban nationals) are generally ineligible to adjust status to lawful permanent residence or receive other immigration benefits.
Duration and Work Authorization: Parole grants are limited to the shorter of one year or the time needed to accomplish the purpose, with a single extension possible. Most parolees are prohibited from accepting employment.
Right to Sue: Any person, state, or local government suffering financial harm exceeding $1,000 due to the Federal Government's unlawful application of this Act can bring a civil action.
Introduced
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