Arkansas has joined Texas and several other GOP-led states in a lawsuit over a program that grants legal status to immigrant spouses of US citizens. The lawsuit challenges the legality of the program, which allows spouses of US citizens who are in the country illegally to apply for work permits and protection from deportation.
Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced the state’s participation in the lawsuit, arguing that the program undermines federal immigration laws and creates a pathway for individuals to circumvent the legal immigration process. Rutledge stated that Arkansas is standing up for the rule of law and seeking to prevent the federal government from overstepping its authority.
The lawsuit, filed in a federal court in Texas, alleges that the program, known as the “parole in place” policy, violates the Immigration and Nationality Act by granting a form of legal status to individuals who are not eligible for it under existing immigration laws. The plaintiffs are seeking to have the program declared illegal and to have it overturned.
The decision to join the lawsuit comes amid a broader debate over immigration policy in the US, with Republicans and Democrats at odds over how to address the issue. Supporters of the program argue that it provides a way for immigrant spouses of US citizens to remain in the country legally and contribute to society, while opponents argue that it undermines the integrity of the immigration system and incentivizes illegal immigration.
As the legal battle over the program continues, Arkansas and the other states involved in the lawsuit are likely to play a key role in shaping the future of immigration policy in the US. It remains to be seen how the courts will ultimately rule on the legality of the program and what impact it will have on the thousands of immigrant spouses who are currently benefiting from it.
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