New York Attorney General Letitia James has taken a significant step by co-leading a coalition of 16 attorneys general in support of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) humanitarian parole programs for vulnerable immigrants. The coalition filed an amicus brief in the case Doe v. Noem, urging the court to issue a preliminary injunction against actions initiated by the Trump administration that directed DHS to terminate these programs.
Attorney General James emphasized the importance of protecting vulnerable immigrants, stating, “Vulnerable immigrants fleeing violence deserve protection, families seeking stability deserve to be kept together, and new Americans seeking better opportunities deserve to be able to contribute to local economies throughout the nation.”
Parole pathways allow newly arrived immigrants temporary residence in the United States and enable them to join the workforce. These programs have been essential for immigrants from countries like Haiti, Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Afghanistan, and Ukraine. The coalition highlighted that these individuals play vital roles in various sectors and contribute significantly through taxes and spending power.
In New York alone, immigrants constituted 27.8 percent of the labor force in 2023 and held substantial portions of jobs such as home health aides and housekeepers. The termination of parole pathways could result in economic setbacks for states like New York by depriving them of valuable contributions from immigrant communities.
The amicus brief further argues that ending parole pathways would not only disrupt current parolees' status but also prevent future applications. This could lead to family separations and force many back into dangerous conditions abroad.
Joining Attorney General James are her counterparts from California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.
Attorney General James continues her efforts as a defender against policies perceived as unjust by leading initiatives supporting Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans and advocating for expanded protections for Haitians and other at-risk groups.