This past Monday, August 19, marked a momentous day for many American families all across our nation. It was the first day that eligible immigrants could apply for relief under Keeping Families Together, the Biden administration’s new program protecting eligible undocumented spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens as they seek permanent status in the United States.
Among the prospective applicants was DACA recipient Brenda Valle. On Monday, she was at CHIRLA headquarters in downtown Los Angeles to help lift the member-based immigrant rights organization’s Keeping Families Together-related services, including application assistance. “Definitely excited for this opportunity that starts today,” Valle told ABC 7 News. “It’s something that we’ve been waiting for many, many years.”
“Her husband, Antonio Valle, explained the opportunity brings a lot of relief,” the report continued. “He grew up separated from his own father. ‘For me as a child, it was really hard, and that’s something I don’t want my kids to go through,’ he said. The Valle family has a bucket list they hope to start checking off, including visiting loved ones in Mexico.”
“I want to applaud the Biden-Harris admin. for taking executive action to keep families together. At the same time, we recognize this is a narrow protection that leaves millions of families in limbo. We support a permanent solution!” –@AngelicaCHIRLA, CHIRLA Executive Director pic.twitter.com/sPIMPwv0gg
— CHIRLA (@CHIRLA) August 19, 2024
Other prospective applicants include Lupe, who has lived in the U.S. since she was three and is married to a U.S. citizen. However, due to outdated immigration laws, she can’t adjust her status without having to leave her family and home for as long as a decade. “With the @POTUS Parole in Place program (PIP), we’ve found renewed hope,” she said in a tweet shared by CHIRLA. “We’re good people. I have a nail business & my husband is a security officer. We pay our taxes & contribute to the U.S. This new program would open up more doors of opportunity for me & my family.”
"I came to the US at 3 yrs old, & since I’ve been on a journey to find myself, struggling to belong in this country. I grew up here, yet some say I don’t belong because I lack a piece of paper. This is my home," Lupe, CHIRLA member who would benefit from Parole in Place (PIP). pic.twitter.com/bPoJ8sxC8k
— CHIRLA (@CHIRLA) August 19, 2024
"With the @POTUS Parole in Place program (PIP), we’ve found renewed hope. We're good people. I have a nail business & my husband is a security officer. We pay our taxes & contribute to the U.S.
This new program would open up more doors of opportunity for me & my family,” Lupe. pic.twitter.com/7WRJP7VDQF
— CHIRLA (@CHIRLA) August 19, 2024
Heading into the implementation date, CHIRLA announced it would be “offering an array of services, including community sessions, screenings, and application processing” three times a week at its L.A. offices. “We want to encourage as many families as possible who think they qualify to stop by one of our informational sessions and determine if this is the right opportunity for them,” said Karla Aguayo, CHIRLA Legal Services Director. “Our immigration attorneys will respond to all their questions and assist them if they do qualify to apply.”
During Monday’s event, which included representatives from the offices of Senator Laphonza Butler, Reps. Lou Correa, Jimmy Gomez, and Nanette Barragán, chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, CHIRLA Executive Director Angelica Salas said the policy is at its core about family values.
“At CHIRLA, we’re calling this program keeping families together – familias unidas,” Salas said. “Because at the heart of this program is family unity, at the heart of this program is also love and compassion.” She added that for too long, “being a U.S. citizen has not protected you from harm if your family is undocumented. Today, President Biden’s executive order begins to change this terrible wrong.”
Do you think you might qualify for the Keeping Families Together program, also known as Parole in Place (PIP)?
Stop by one of our info sessions to learn more! ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/Ej9fwUmJRM
— CHIRLA (@CHIRLA) August 19, 2024
In a helpful new TikTok, America’s Voice Legal Advisor David Leopold goes over some of the eligibility requirements to be a part of the Keeping Families Together program. He also warns about potential scammers looking to take advantage of folks interested in applying. “Look on the website, if you really don’t understand it, consult with a licensed attorney, or an agency that’s licensed,” he said.
@americasvoice STARTING TODAY: some immigrants will be able to enroll in the Keeping Families Together program aka Parole in Place (PIP). Legal attorney, David Leopold explains more. #keepingfamiliestogether #paroleinplace #immigration #immigrationlawyer
Back at CHIRLA’s event, other attendees excited to apply were Miguel Aleman, “a 39-year-old who was brought to the United States from Mexico at age 4,” Reuters reported. “Without the program, Aleman, who has two young children with his U.S.-citizen wife and works as an Uber driver, would have to relocate to Mexico – possibly for a decade or longer – before being allowed to return legally … Aleman is enrolled in DACA but hopes to receive permanent status through Keeping Families Together. ‘I want to keep contributing to this country,’ he said.
Biden immigration order is a light at the end of a long tunnel of hope
