Wine Country Times

The Department of Homeland Security recently issued a press release to announce new Family Reunification Parole Processes. This move aims to promote family unity and provide lawful pathways for eligible individuals seeking to apply for permanent residency.

“These new processes promote family unity and provide lawful pathways consistent with our laws and our values," Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) made a significant stride toward promoting family unity and providing lawful pathways for nationals from Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras on July 7, 2023. “These new processes promote family unity and provide lawful pathways consistent with our laws and our values," Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas stated.

According to a press release issued by DHS, under the newly established guidelines, individuals from Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras who have family members residing in the United States as U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents can now be considered for parole on a case-by-case basis. This parole status will be granted for a duration of up to three years, allowing these individuals to await the opportunity to apply for lawful permanent residency. It is essential to understand that the granting of parole will be based on discretionary and temporary factors, primarily focusing on compelling humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit, as well as a demonstration of individual merit.

Furthermore, those who are paroled into the United States under these new processes will be eligible to request employment authorization while waiting for their immigrant visa availability. Once the immigrant visa becomes available, they can proceed with the application to become lawful permanent residents.

The DHS emphasizes the importance of following the correct procedures during this process on the Family Reunification Parole Processes information page. Individuals seeking family reunification parole must receive an invitation from the Department of State before submitting Form I-134A on behalf of their family members. The invitations will be sent out at a later date, and the DHS website will be updated accordingly.

 "The process complements other efforts to collaboratively manage migration in the Western Hemisphere and at the SWB as the U.S. Government continues to implement its broader, multi-pronged, and regional strategy to address the challenges posed by irregular migration," According to Federal Register documents.