TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA — Attorney General Ashley Moody is taking action to stop President Joe Biden’s latest immigration move, joining 19 other states in a federal lawsuit. The president wants to curb illegal immigration by attempting to legalize unlawful entry for hundreds of thousands of immigrants.
Days before Moody began trial in federal court to hold the president accountable for refusing to enforce existing federal immigration laws, Biden announced a new parole program that could allow up to 30,000 inadmissible immigrants into the U.S. every month.
DESTRUCTIVE IMMIGRATION POLICIES
The Florida Standard reported on Florida’s federal trial where Moody’s legal team provided evidence and testimony that the Biden administration knew its destructive immigration policies were creating a public safety crisis at the border.
“As we prepared to take Biden to court over his unlawful catch-and-release policies, the president announced yet another reckless attempt to continue flooding the country with massive waves of illegal immigrants,” said Moody.
“Biden’s new solution to his self-created crisis at the border is to allow illegal immigrants to travel directly into the interior of the country without crossing the southern border – in direct violation of federal law. His unlawful actions will not go unchecked, and we will continue to fight in court to force this president to follow public-safety immigration laws,” Moody added.
MISUSE OF PAROLE PROGRAM
On January 5, Biden and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced the creation of a new parole program for Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela citizens. Rather than crossing the border on land, illegal immigrants can apply for advance authorization to enter the U.S. Approved applicants get permission to work and may stay in the country for up to two years.
In a federal complaint to enjoin Biden and DHS from implementing the program, the attorneys general argue that the president’s action goes against federal law. Congress gives limited parole power to the president under 8 U.S.C. 1182(d)(5). The parole option should be a case-by-case decision only for urgent humanitarian reasons.
“The program established by the Department fails each of those limiting factors. It is not case-by-case, is not for urgent humanitarian reasons, and advances no significant public benefit,” the complaint states.
“Instead, it amounts to the creation of a new visa program that allows hundreds of thousands of aliens to enter the United States who otherwise have no basis for doing so. This flouts, rather than follows, the clear limitations imposed by Congress,” the complaint states.
FLORIDA’S ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CRISIS
On January 1, more than 300 illegal aliens unlawfully entered Dry Tortugas National Park, located about 70 miles west of Key West. Since then, waves of Cuban and Haitian migrants have arrived in the Florida Straits and made their way to the shores of South Florida.
On January 6, the day after Biden announced his parole program, the massive influx prompted Governor DeSantis to activate Florida’s National Guard to ease the burden on local law enforcement. Florida has a long history of helping refugees – including those fleeing communist regimes – find support after they arrive in the United States.
“As the negative impacts of Biden’s lawless immigration policies continue unabated, the burden of the Biden administration’s failure falls on local law enforcement who lack the resources to deal with the crisis,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “That is why I am activating the National Guard and directing state resources to help alleviate the strain on local resources. When Biden continues to ignore his legal responsibilities, we will step in to support our communities.”
On January 11, the White House accused DeSantis of orchestrating a “political stunt” by mobilizing the National Guard in response to the migrant influx. But hours later, the U.S. Coast Guard Seventh District sent a letter to the state of Florida asking for help and requesting additional resources to assist them with the migrant crisis.
DEADLY DRUGS AND CRIMINALS
The Florida Division of Emergency Management told The Florida Standard that the Coast Guard interdicted more than 8,400 migrants and repatriated more than 7,600 since August 2022. In 2021, the Coast Guard interdicted 5,028 migrants, according to data from the Department of Homeland Security.
Many more migrants are making their way to Florida through the southern border. According to Moody, Biden’s immigration policies allow deadly drugs, criminals, and individuals on the terrorist watchlist to flood into the country.
The Florida Standard reported on a recent Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) roundtable discussing strategies to stop gangs responsible for both human trafficking and drug trafficking into Florida from the southern border.
Moody says the Biden administration instituted the program without engaging in the usual notice and comment rulemaking process required by law. Other states joining the suit include Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming.
