Keeping Families together struck down by federal judge

On November 7th, 2024 a federal judge struck down the Keeping Families Together program—also known as parole in place—a lifeline announced earlier this year by President Biden. This program was designed to protect undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens from deportation, allowing them to work and seek a path to citizenship without the fear of being torn away from their families.

Right now, many undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens face an impossible choice: either leave the country for ten years before being eligible to return legally or stay in the shadows, separated from the life they’ve built here. Even though they’re eligible for an immigrant visa as an “immediate relative,” many are shut out due to technicalities that punish them simply for seeking a better life. The Keeping Families Together program was supposed to change that, offering hope to up to 550,000 mixed-status families. But it was blocked by a lawsuit before it even began, and now a judge has ended it entirely—taking away the promise of a future without fear.

This decision is a harsh blow to our immigrant communities who were counting on this program to stay united and secure a brighter future. It’s yet another reminder of how far we still have to go in the fight for justice.

At Equity Corps of Oregon, we refuse to give up. We see the pain this decision causes, and we stand with every family affected. We are more committed than ever to fighting for policies that let all of us live with dignity, safety, and the freedom to build a life here. We will keep pushing forward, together, until every family has the chance to thrive in the place they call home.