Attorney General Kwame Raoul, alongside a coalition of 20 attorneys general, has filed an amicus brief in support of the Keeping Families Together (KFT) program. This federal initiative allows certain undocumented spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens to apply for permanent residence.
The brief was submitted to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. It argues that the federal government possesses the authority to implement this program and highlights its goal of maintaining family unity, which has been a consistent element of U.S. immigration policy.
"As the proud son of immigrants and as Attorney General, I have seen the benefits experienced by families and communities when we ensure that families are kept together and that family members of U.S. citizens are ultimately able to apply for permanent residence," Raoul stated. "I will continue to work with my fellow attorneys general to advocate for immigrants’ rights and make sure the United States will always be a country that celebrates diversity and the many contributions immigrant communities make to our states."
The KFT program was announced by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in August 2024. It permits certain undocumented family members living in the United States to apply for immigration parole, allowing them to seek permanent residence without leaving the country.
Raoul and his colleagues argue that implementing immigration parole programs is within federal authority, an authority exercised across various presidential administrations from different political parties. They emphasize that keeping families together is central to U.S. immigration policy, benefiting not only families but also neighborhoods, communities, and local economies.
Joining Raoul in filing this brief are attorneys general from Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin.