WASHINGTON — Immigration advocates want to know whether a program blocking deportations of troops' family members has been shut down as part of the White House's crackdown on illegal immigration.
"This president's rushed and ill-considered executive orders may have, intentionally or inadvertently, removed those protections," said Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, and a key voice on border security issues for his party.
"It's common decency and common sense: how could a soldier, sailor, airman or Marine focus on their duty, when their spouse or child could be deported at any time?"
Department of Homeland Security officials haven't announced whether the "Parole in Place" program — instituted in November 2013 as a military readiness initiative — has been affected by recent executive orders issued by President Donald Trump.
On Tuesday, DHS officials released a series of implementation plans for those orders, including a statement asserting that "the lawful detention of aliens arriving in the United States and deemed inadmissible … is the most efficient means by which to enforce the immigration laws at our borders."
Enforcing that includes hiring new agents to "detect, track, and apprehend all aliens illegally entering the United States," with discretion for DHS officials and judges to grant exceptions for some foreign nationals. It specifies that parole programs should be "exercised sparingly."
But the orders don't specifically mention the PIP program, which allows for exemptions for immigrants living in the United States illegally if they have a relative who is a member of the armed forces.
At the start of the program, officials called it a critical step towards keeping servicemembers focused and ready to defend America.
"Military preparedness can potentially be adversely affected if active members of the U.S. armed forces and individuals serving in the selected reserve … worry about the immigration status of their spouses, parents and children," program documents stated.
White House officials referred all questions on the PIP program to Homeland Security officials. DHS officials did not respond to requests seeking clarification on the program.
Cuellar said he wants Trump to give assurances that as president he is committed to protecting the families of immigrants who have volunteered for military service.
"If he will not, then just like when he attacked Gold Star parents during his campaign, he has put political showmanship ahead of our servicemembers and their families," Cuellar said. "That's against American values and dangerous to our national security."
Trump’s immigration moves have come under intense scrutiny from a number of critics, prompting large demonstrations at airports and city centers in recent weeks.
On Thursday, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly clarified remarks by the president earlier in the day on immigration plans, saying that officials will not enlist the military to enforce immigration laws and that there will be "no mass deportations" as part of the efforts.
Leo Shane III covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He can be reached at lshane@militarytimes.com.
Leo covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He has covered Washington, D.C. since 2004, focusing on military personnel and veterans policies. His work has earned numerous honors, including a 2009 Polk award, a 2010 National Headliner Award, the IAVA Leadership in Journalism award and the VFW News Media award.
