Attorney General Cameron Fights Federal Overreach by Biden Administration, Joins 20-State Coalition in Lawsuit to Stop Unlawful Use of Immigration Parole Power

Thursday, January 26, 2023 at 6:19 AM

Stop from implementing a new program,

FRANKFORT, Ky. (January 24, 2023) – Attorney General Daniel Cameron today continued his fight to protect Kentuckians from federal overreach by the Biden Administration. He joined a 20-state coalition in a lawsuit to stop the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from implementing a new program, which unlawfully uses immigration parole power and would allow a surge of illegal immigration to the United States.

“Instead of adopting a thorough plan to address the crisis at the border, the Biden Administration has developed a program that would allow hundreds of thousands of immigrants to enter the United States illegally,” said Attorney General Cameron. “This policy threatens the safety of our communities, exacerbates the opioid crisis, and would place added strain on Kentucky and states across the country.”

In their complaint, the attorneys general argue that DHS’ program is unlawful because it does not comply with the limitations outlined by Congress for the use of parole power for immigration. Congress has set clear limitations for this power, determining it may only be used on a “case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.”

The DHS’ new “parole” program would allow up to 360,000 residents from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to illegally immigrate into the United States every year.

The Migration Policy Institution estimates more than 35,000 illegal immigrants reside in the Commonwealth; sixty percent are uninsured, and thirty-seven percent have incomes that are below the poverty level.

Attorney General Cameron was joined by attorneys general from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming in filing the complaint.

To read the complaint, click here