By Chris Morris
Senior Reporter, The Midtown Times
New York Attorney General Leads Multistate Effort to Preserve Humanitarian Parole Programs
As federal immigration enforcement intensifies in Lower Manhattan and beyond, New York State Attorney General Letitia James has taken a decisive stand to shield immigrant communities from what she describes as harmful federal overreach.
On July 2, James—joined by 15 fellow state attorneys general and officials from the City and County of San Francisco—filed a legal brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. The motion urges the court to uphold a lower court ruling that blocks the federal government from terminating humanitarian parole protections for more than half a million migrants.
The case centers on the Department of Homeland Security’s “CHNV” parole program, launched in 2022 and 2023, which allows individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to legally enter and remain in the United States under specific humanitarian or public interest grounds. James emphasized the program’s critical role in providing relief and structure to vulnerable populations fleeing hardship.
Increased ICE Presence Raises Alarm in NYC Courts
Advocates Report Aggressive Tactics as Federal Agents Target Immigrant Hearings
Meanwhile, concerns are mounting over the conduct of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in New York City. According to eyewitness reports and immigrant rights groups, ICE officers—often wearing body armor and face coverings—have been stationed inside 26 Federal Plaza, a central immigration court in Lower Manhattan. These agents allegedly wait in court hallways to detain individuals immediately after their mandated hearings, creating what advocates describe as a climate of fear and intimidation.
This aggressive federal posture, now escalating under the renewed directives of former President Trump, stands in sharp contrast to the protective measures advocated by James and her multistate coalition.
Attorney General James said in a statement that efforts to dismantle lawful parole channels not only threaten the stability of immigrant communities, but also undermine American values of fairness and due process.
“The CHNV program has brought hope and legal structure to thousands of families,” James stated. “We will continue to defend it against attacks that seek to sow chaos and cruelty.”
By Carmen Martinez — International Affairs Reporter covering global crises, diplomacy, and civil unrest with integrity and depth.
Email: c.martinez@midtowntimes.com
