Keeping Families Together: A New Path for Certain Undocumented Spouses and Stepchildren of U.S. Citizens
October 18, 2024
Keeping Families Together: A New Path for Certain Undocumented Spouses and Stepchildren of U.S. Citizens
On August 19, 2024, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) implemented “Keeping Families Together,” a process allowing certain noncitizen spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens to request parole-in- place.
What Is Parole-in-Place?
Parole-in-place allows specific individuals who entered the United States without presenting themselves to an immigration officer at an official checkpoint to remain in the country for up to three years and possibly apply for their green card in the United States rather than having to travel abroad to apply at a U.S. consulate.
Who May Be Eligible?
Noncitizen spouses of U.S. citizens who:
- Are present in the United States without admission or parole;
- Have been continuously physically present since at least June 17, 2014, through the date of filing their request; and
- Have a valid marriage to a S. citizen on or before June 17, 2024.
Noncitizen stepchildren of U.S. citizens who:
- Were under 21 and unmarried on June 17, 2024;
- Are present in the United States without admission or parole;
- Have been continuously physically present since at least June 17, 2024, and through the date of filing their request; and
- Have a noncitizen parent who married a U.S. citizen on or before June 17, 2024, and before the stepchild’s 18th
An applicant must:
- Not have any disqualifying criminal history;
- Not commit acts that are a threat to public safety, national security, or border security; and
- Undergo required background checks and national security and public safety vetting. You may be required t o go to an application support center to submit photographs and fingerprints.
If a Parole-in-Place Application Is Approved, the Applicant Can:
- Stay in the United States legally for up to three years
- Apply for work authorization
- Apply for other immigration benefits, like a green card,
if you qualify
Important Considerations:
- Each eligible family member must file separately
- Approval is discretionary and not guaranteed
- Criminal history or prior immigration violations may affect eligibility
- Travel outside the United States may affect eligibility for parole status or terminate parole status once granted
- DHS can end your parole at any time
Next Steps:
Note: This is general information, not legal advice. Immigration laws are complex and can change. Always consult a qualified immigration attorney for advice on your specific situation.
We encourage you to contact our office at 719 602 4477 if you have any questions.
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According to sources such as Newbreak, several specific cases have emerged where a judge dismisses the case during the hearing, but ICE officers are waiting outside the courthouse to detain the individual as they leave. Newbreak.com recently reported that at least eight arrests of this kind have taken place in Memphis, with similar cases occurring in other parts of the country as well. One of the most recent known cases involved a 20-year-old Venezuelan student who was arrested by ICE officers after leaving a courtroom in New York. The young man, named Dylan, was in the process of applying for asylum. He attended the hearing with his mother, without a lawyer, believing it was a routine appearance that would have no consequences. In another instance, four asylum seekers were arrested by ICE on May 27, 2025, at the San Francisco Immigration Court while attending hearings to present their asylum applications. According to an article published by La Nación, a New York judge reported that ICE agents have been arresting undocumented immigrants inside state courthouses, despite existing laws that prohibit such practices. These arrests have raised serious concerns among civil rights advocates and immigrant communities, particularly in light of the stricter immigration policies implemented since Donald Trump returned to the presidency in January 2025. Importantly, in most of these cases, the individuals arrested attended their hearings without legal representation. This likely contributes to the effectiveness of these arrests, as ICE may be taking advantage of the detainees’ lack of legal knowledge. While having an attorney present does not guarantee protection from arrest, it is considered a significant advantage. Legal representation can help build a stronger case and present more compelling legal arguments to prevent arbitrary detention. At Pikes Peak Immigration, we continue to fight for the rights of our immigrant communities. If you need legal guidance, don’t hesitate to contact us at 719-602-4477.
On April 15, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice fired immigration attorney Erez Reuveni following his handling of the case of Kilmar Abrego García, a Salvadoran man who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador. Reuveni had acknowledged during a court hearing that the deportation was an "administrative error" and expressed frustration over the government's failure to provide clear answers on how to reverse the situation. According to CNN, “Reuveni was initially placed on administrative leave days after expressing frustration over the government's inability to provide answers to a judge’s questions in the case. In court, he said of the government’s position: ‘Our only arguments are jurisdictional... He should not have been sent to El Salvador.’” His dismissal was interpreted as a consequence of failing to fully support the administration’s official position. Attorney General Pam Bondi defended the decision, stating that lawyers must “zealously” advocate for the administration’s policies or face consequences. Presidential advisor Stephen Miller downplayed the error, blaming it on a poorly worded line written by the attorney. However, Reuveni’s case is not an isolated incident. According to NBC Boston, “The U.S. Department of Justice has fired more than two dozen employees, most of whom worked in immigration courts... An immigration judge assigned to Massachusetts, who was fired on Friday, and the union representing immigration judges nationwide are speaking out about the dismissals, which come as President Donald Trump moves swiftly to reduce the federal workforce.” As for Kilmar Abrego, “a federal judge ordered his return to the U.S., but the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily blocked the order. The president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, refused to facilitate his return, labeling him a ‘terrorist’ and claiming he would not ‘traffic a terrorist back into the U.S.,’” El Salvador News recently reported. Despite intimidation and increasingly harsh immigration policies, at Pikes Peak Immigration, we continue to defend immigrants and pursue every solution to keep families together.
According to documents reviewed by The Washington Post , the Department of Justice (DOJ) recently authorized access for approximately six advisors from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to the ECAS system—a highly confidential database that contains detailed information on millions of immigrants, including names, addresses, medical histories, and court testimonies. This system, typically restricted to attorneys and federal investigators, holds records of all interactions—both legal and undocumented—between immigrants and the U.S. government dating back to the 1990s. Among the DOGE advisors granted access are individuals connected to Elon Musk, including employees from his private equity firm. One of them, Marko Elez, has previously been linked to racist social media posts. This access was granted despite a federal judge in Maryland issuing a temporary restraining order in February of this year against the Department of Education and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). In her opinion, the judge stated that the plaintiffs—which include members of several major labor unions—demonstrated that the Department of Education and the OPM "likely violated the Privacy Act by disclosing personal information to DOGE affiliates without consent," as reported by Telemundo40 a few months ago. The access is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration and DOGE to collect data from multiple federal agencies—including Medicare, the IRS, the SSA, and HUD—with the aim of ramping up deportations and excluding immigrants from social benefits. Some tactics reportedly include declaring living immigrants as deceased to pressure them into leaving the country. As The Washington Post reported after investigating the matter, "DOGE has frequently sought data originally provided for specific purposes—such as tax filing or housing assistance. The team's methods have alarmed legal and privacy experts, as well as federal employees, who note that the data DOGE is analyzing is typically accessible only to a select group of highly trained personnel." Legal and privacy experts have raised serious concerns over the lack of oversight and the risks posed by granting access to such sensitive data—especially for immigrants who have followed legal immigration procedures. If you are an immigrant or know someone at risk of deportation, contact us for assistance at 719-602-4477.
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