An Army recruiter has gone to social media to inform the public and current service members of the benefits that are now exclusively available to those who serve.
Ericka Bernie, an Army recruiter in California, says she was asked to tell her followers about the government program to protect undocumented family members of service members who are at risk of being deported from the United States.
“I’ve been getting a lot of questions about Parole in Place and while I’m not the subject matter expert, I want to point you to the right place so you can get the most accurate information and state the process right away,” she said on TikTok.
Parole in Place (PIP) is an immigration relief program that allows certain undocumented family members of U.S. military personnel to remain in the United States legally on a temporary basis. This provision is intended to support military readiness and family unity.
PIP is a form of temporary legal status granted under the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) authority. It allows individuals who entered the U.S. without inspection to remain in the country legally and, in some cases, adjust their status to lawful permanent residence without having to leave the United States. Under section 212(d)(5)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), DHS has the discretion to grant parole to certain individuals based on urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. PIP is typically granted in one-year increments and can be renewed.
PIP is available to immediate family members of active duty U.S. military members, reservists, and veterans. The service member does not need to be a U.S. citizen for their family members to qualify; lawful permanent residents (green card holders) who serve in the military may also have eligible relatives. Eligible family members include spouses, parents, and unmarried children under 21 years old.
Individuals granted PIP may apply for work authorization and, if otherwise eligible, seek adjustment of status to become lawful permanent residents without departing the U.S. for consular processing.
By providing a temporary legal option for these individuals, PIP supports family cohesion, allows access to employment authorization, and offers a potential path to lawful status, ensuring that military families remain together without disruption.
PIP provides temporary protection from deportation for the duration of the parole period, which is typically one year. This protection can be renewed at the discretion of DHS, but it does not provide a direct pathway to citizenship.
However, individuals granted PIP may be eligible to apply for lawful permanent residency if they meet other requirements, such as having a qualifying relationship to a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident and meeting admissibility criteria. Additionally, PIP recipients may apply for work authorization, allowing them to be legally employed in the United States while under parole status.
On June 18, 2024, DHS introduced the Keeping Families Together (KFT) initiative, which sought to expand parole in place eligibility to certain undocumented spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens.
The program was expected to apply to approximately 500,000 spouses and 50,000 stepchildren. While both programs relied on the use of parole authority under section 212(d)(5)(A) of the INA, PIP is specifically designated for military families, whereas KFT aimed to broaden eligibility beyond military connections. However, on November 7, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas vacated the KFT parole process, effectively ending the program.
As a result, pending Form I-131F applications will not be adjudicated, USCIS will no longer accept new applications, and related appointments have been canceled. The agency has stated that it will provide additional guidance on handling pending applications and paid fees.
This ruling does not affect the general Parole in Place process for military families, which remains in place under existing DHS authority. While KFT was intended to expand eligibility for parole to a broader group of undocumented individuals with U.S. citizen family members, its cancellation leaves PIP as one of the remaining parole options available under current policy.
Parole in Place remains an active policy for certain military family members, allowing them to stay in the U.S. and, if eligible, apply for lawful permanent residency. Individuals affected by these policies may seek further guidance from USCIS or legal professionals to understand their options.
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