Top immigration experts are criticizing the Biden administration for planning to introduce “parole-in-place” qualifications for illegal immigrant spouses of U.S. citizens. This idea originated from a memo by President Bill Clinton in 1998 and has been used to categorize non-citizen immediate family members of U.S. service members since 2016. An upcoming executive order expanding this program is expected to protect up to half a million illegal immigrants from deportation.
Former Acting ICE Director Thomas Homan expressed concerns that this move would harm the U.S. and lead to an increase in marriage fraud, as the policy is primarily focused on spouses. He believes that the administration’s failure to secure the border will only encourage more illegal aliens to take advantage of this program. Homan emphasized the need for stricter immigration enforcement to prevent further abuse of the system.
In order to qualify for the parole-in-place program, the spouse must have lived in the U.S. for at least 10 years, be legally married to a U.S. citizen, and have a clean criminal record. Joe Edlow, former acting director of USCIS, cautioned that the estimated 500,000 individuals who may benefit from this program could be a conservative figure. He stressed the importance of upholding immigration laws and preventing widespread amnesty.
Dr. Kevin Roberts of the Heritage Foundation compared the potential impact of this policy to adding a 51st state to the U.S. He warned that the Biden administration’s mass amnesty scheme could significantly alter the country’s demographics and social dynamics. Roberts highlighted the need for transparency and accountability in immigration policies to ensure the integrity of the system.
While the White House and ICE did not respond to requests for comments on this matter, it is clear that the parole-in-place program has sparked a heated debate among experts and officials. The implications of this policy extend beyond immigration laws and marriage fraud, raising broader questions about national security and the rule of law. As the Biden administration moves forward with its plans, the public must remain informed and engaged in discussions about the future of immigration in the United States.