US CITIZENS SPONSORING FAMILY MEMBERS JOIN EFFORT TO DEFEND IMMIGRATION PROGRAM IN COURT

In late January, Republican-led states filed a lawsuit against the humanitarian parole program, arguing that the administration exceeded its authority in its use of the program and requesting the court block it. The Justice Department is expected to defend the program. Now, US citizens who are sponsoring family members, among others, to come to the United States under the program are getting involved in the case to "defend their interests in the humanitarian and public benefits of the programs," the filing says. On Wednesday, the Justice Action Center -- along with RAICES and UCLA's Center for Immigration Law and Policy -- submitted a court filing on behalf of the seven citizens. "We wanted to illustrate how these programs are being used by ordinary Americans in the United States," said Esther Sung, legal director at Justice Action Center. “All of these programs, I think, are pretty unique in modern day immigration policy in that they allow the American public to interact with the immigration system in a way that people otherwise wouldn't. I think our intervenors demonstrate the breadth and range of types of people who can and want to engage with the immigration system," Sung added.

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