On August 23, 2024, Texas and 15 other states filed a lawsuit seeking to block the new Parole in Place (PIP) program, Keeping Families Together, for qualifying spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens. On August 26, 2024, the Eastern District Court of Texas issued an administrative stay order that temporarily prevented approvals for the PIP applications through September 9, 2024. The court subsequently extended the stay order through September 23, 2024. As litigation continues, the court may continue to extend the administrative order in order to halt application approvals while the court considers the legality of the program.
Although prohibited from approving applications, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will continue to accept PIP applications and capture applicants’ biometrics during the stay. USCIS also confirmed that any PIP approvals issued prior to the initial order will remain valid.