IRAP filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) suit seeking documents relating to the financial sponsorship requirements for individuals applying for parole through the Central American Minors (CAM) Program.
The CAM Refugee and Parole Program was established in 2014 to provide a legal pathway for children and their family members facing danger in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to reunite with their parents or legal guardians lawfully residing in the United States.
Impact
In April of 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) changed the form (known as Form I-134) used by individuals wishing to sponsor a child or family member through the CAM program so that applicants were required to supply more information than before. However, the agency did not inform the public that it had changed the requirements that sponsors and beneficiaries must meet to be approved in substantial ways.
Since the changes to the form were made, rather than adjudicating applications, USCIS began requesting additional evidence from CAM applicants. This has caused significant processing delays, and as a result many of IRAP’s CAM clients have been waiting at least a year—and sometimes longer—for a decision on their cases. This lawsuit aimed to make clear the new requirements of the CAM application process so that IRAP can better serve its clients hoping to reunite with their families.
Case status
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April 7, 2023: Complaint is filed.
Follow the Case
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April 7, 2023 | Complaint
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