A federal judge has upheld the Biden administration’s program that permits a limited number of migrants from four countries to enter the United States for humanitarian reasons, dismissing a challenge from Republican-led states.
The ruling by U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton on Friday, March 8, 2024, allows the program to continue operating, despite opposition from Texas and 20 other states.
Under the program, up to 30,000 asylum-seekers from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela combined are admitted into the U.S. each month.
Judge Tipton ruled that the plaintiff states failed to demonstrate financial harm resulting from the program, a prerequisite for legal standing in the lawsuit.
While dismissing the challenge, Judge Tipton did not address the lawfulness of the program itself. The Biden administration sees the program as a vital component of its broader immigration policy, aimed at providing legal pathways for migrants while deterring unauthorized border crossings.
The plaintiff states, led by Texas, argued that the program imposed significant financial burdens on them, particularly in healthcare, education, and public safety services. They labeled the program as creating a “shadow immigration system.”
In response, advocates for the federal government highlighted the contributions of migrants admitted through the program, particularly in addressing labor shortages in U.S. agriculture.
The White House welcomed the court’s decision, emphasizing the program’s success in expanding legal pathways for nationals from the four countries while reducing unauthorized border crossings. The ruling represents a significant victory for the Biden administration’s immigration policies.
Since its inception in fall 2022, the program has admitted over 357,000 individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, with Haitians forming the largest group. Migrants must apply online, have a financial sponsor in the U.S., and can stay for two years with a work permit upon approval.
The decision is likely to face an appeal from Texas and other plaintiff states.
Despite the legal victory, the Biden administration continues to grapple with challenges to its immigration policies, including legal disputes over various initiatives aimed at addressing the immigration system’s complexities.
