Attorney General Anne Lopez of Hawai'i has joined a coalition of 16 attorneys general in a legal move supporting the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) pathways for vulnerable immigrants. On January 20, 2025, the Trump administration issued an executive order instructing DHS to terminate humanitarian parole programs. This order halted the processing of new parole applications and prevented current parolees from seeking other immigration statuses.
The coalition has filed an amicus brief in the case of Doe v. Noem, calling for a preliminary injunction against these actions, which they believe disrupt the lives of many immigrants and threaten communities and families. According to Deputy Solicitor General Thomas Hughes, "the Trump administration’s sudden termination of all humanitarian parole programs will have devastating impacts on immigrant communities."
The pathways in question are essential for immigrants like Afghans, Ukrainians, Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans, who rely on them for temporary residence while working toward permanent status. Lopez and her colleagues argue that terminating these pathways would have detrimental economic and social effects nationwide, limiting immigrants' ability to contribute to their communities.
The brief also expressed concerns about families being separated and individuals facing removal to unsafe countries. Attorney General Lopez is joined by attorneys general from states such as California, Connecticut, and Minnesota in this action.