On July 14, 2021, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration over its use of a phone app called “Welcome to the USA” that allegedly promotes unlawful immigration. The lawsuit claims that the app encourages illegal border crossings and violates federal law.
The “Welcome to the USA” app was launched by the Biden administration in February 2021 to provide information and resources to asylum seekers who are waiting in Mexico for their cases to be processed. The app includes information on legal rights, health care, and other services available to asylum seekers in the United States.
However, Texas officials argue that the app goes beyond providing information and actually encourages illegal immigration. The lawsuit claims that the app “facilitates illegal immigration by encouraging and incentivizing foreign nationals to unlawfully enter the United States.”
The lawsuit also alleges that the Biden administration’s use of the app violates federal law, specifically the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The INA prohibits the encouragement or inducement of illegal immigration and imposes penalties on those who do so.
In addition to the lawsuit, Texas officials have also requested that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) suspend the use of the app. They argue that the app is contributing to the surge of migrants at the southern border and putting a strain on local resources.
The Biden administration has not yet responded to the lawsuit or the request to suspend the app. However, officials have defended the use of the app as a way to provide critical information and support to asylum seekers who are waiting in dangerous conditions in Mexico.
This lawsuit is just one of several legal challenges that Texas has filed against the Biden administration over its immigration policies. In June 2021, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced plans to build a border wall and increase law enforcement presence at the southern border in response to what he called a “crisis” of illegal immigration.
The issue of immigration has been a contentious one in the United States for many years, with both Democrats and Republicans offering different solutions to address the issue. However, the surge of migrants at the southern border in recent months has brought renewed attention to the issue and sparked a new round of political debate.
As the legal battle over the “Welcome to the USA” app continues, it remains to be seen how the Biden administration will respond and what impact this lawsuit will have on immigration policy in the United States.
