AILA President Responds to Litigation Attempting to Halt Keeping Families Together Program

Washington, DC – As news that Texas, joined by 15 other states and Stephen Miller of America First Legal, has filed litigation in an attempt to halt the newly implemented “Keeping Families Together” program, American Immigration Lawyers Association President Kelli Stump responded as follows:

“This is another example of states attempting to stop the federal government from using its well-established legal authority to promote family unity. In its place these states and Stephen Miller, the architect of Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant policies, hope to re-institute a xenophobic, anti-family, anti-American agenda. We are talking about the family members of U.S. citizens who have been stuck in long-term legal limbo and, through Keeping Families Together, can now apply for legal status rather than endure an arduous and unworkable bureaucratic process. These are individuals who have been living in the United States for at least a decade and are contributing to American communities. It is reprehensible and nonsensical that these states want to undermine the core American value to strengthen families when cutting the red tape will also ensure a more secure and fairer immigration system. From a purely legal standpoint, the states are advancing weak, baseless arguments to justify their standing to sue that in no way merit the program being enjoined. While the program remains in effect, AILA members will continue to help their clients apply for this life-changing protection.”

Note: The original statement erroneously stated that Texas was joined by 16 other states in this litigation. In total, 16 states, including Texas, are involved in this litigation.