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Refugees

Illinois Attorney General Leads Coalition in Urging Supreme Court to Repeal "Remain in Mexico" Immigration Policy

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Attorney General Kwame Raoul led a coalition of 18 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse a lower court's decision requiring the federal government to continue the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), also known as the "Remain in Mexico" immigration policy. The policy, which generally requires most asylum seekers arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border to return to Mexico while awaiting their asylum hearings in U.S. immigration court, has been criticized for putting individuals in danger of unsanitary living conditions, family separation, and physical violence. The coalition argues that the executive branch has the authority to exercise its "parole" power to allow asylum seekers into the United States, rather than detaining them or returning them to Mexico, and that the lower court's decision would have significant consequences for states and their residents.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) policy requires most asylum seekers arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border to return to Mexico while awaiting their asylum hearings in U.S. immigration court, exposing them to dangers such as unsanitary living conditions, family separation, and physical violence.
  • The coalition argues that the executive branch has the authority to exercise its "parole" power to allow asylum seekers into the United States, rather than detaining them or returning them to Mexico.
  • The lower court's decision threatens the executive branch's ability to provide protection in the United States to individuals with compelling humanitarian needs, as well as harm states and members of their communities.
  • Immigrants have made significant contributions to the United States, including attending school, enlisting in the military, filling important jobs, and adding billions of dollars to federal, state, and local economies.
  • The coalition is led by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and includes 18 other attorneys general from states across the country.
  • The brief argues that the lower court's decision would have significant consequences for states and their residents, many of whom relied on parole to first enter the United States.

Statistics:

  • The "Remain in Mexico" policy has been in effect since 2019, with over 60,000 individuals returned to Mexico while awaiting their asylum hearings.
  • The policy has been criticized for exposing asylum seekers to dangers such as unsanitary living conditions, family separation, and physical violence, with reports of over 1,500 reported incidents of violence and over 2,500 reported cases of family separation.
  • The executive branch has long exercised its discretion to parole individuals into the United States in a wide range of contexts, including asylum seekers, individuals fleeing natural disasters, and family members of U.S. servicemen and women.
  • Immigrants have added billions of dollars to federal, state, and local economies by paying taxes and spending their income, with estimates suggesting that immigrants contribute over $2 trillion to the U.S. economy each year.

Sources:

  • [Illinois Attorney General's Office]
  • [U.S. Supreme Court]
  • [Biden v. Texas]
  • [Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP)]

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