A federal judge in the United States has temporarily prevented President Donald Trump’s administration from halting humanitarian parole programs that allow thousands of migrants with American sponsors to enter the country legally. This development was reported by Reuters, highlighting that District Judge Indira Talwani, based in Boston, issued an order requiring the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to continue processing applications from migrants covered by these programs until an ongoing class-action lawsuit is resolved.
Judge Talwani dismissed the Trump administration's claim that it had the discretion to terminate these programs as part of its immigration policies. She emphasized that while the government can direct immigration policy, federal agencies are still legally bound to follow a formal process when approving or denying immigration benefits such as parole.
This judicial decision arises from a lawsuit challenging the suspension of processing applications for migrants from Cuba, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. These individuals are seeking entry into the U.S. under the parole program or looking to adjust their immigration status if they are already beneficiaries.
Background of the Legal Battle
Judge Talwani, appointed during President Barack Obama’s tenure, had previously halted an attempt by the Trump administration to revoke the temporary legal status of hundreds of thousands of migrants from those nations, including Cubans, in April. The Trump administration has since appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court to suspend her decision pending the appeal.
The recent court order addresses policies adopted after Trump’s return to the White House on January 20, when he signed an executive order directing the DHS to end parole programs established during Joe Biden’s presidency. On the same day, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security, Benjamine Huffman, instructed the suspension, modification, or elimination of any categorical parole programs, asserting that the law only permits its granting on a case-by-case basis.
White House Response to Legal Decisions
Following this directive, new applications ceased processing, and personnel were prohibited from considering status changes for already approved beneficiaries, including options like asylum or Temporary Protected Status (TPS). In April, the White House made it clear it would not remain idle after a judge overturned President Trump’s order to revoke the immigration program that grants legal status to 530,000 Venezuelans, Cubans, Nicaraguans, and Haitians, known as humanitarian parole.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt sharply criticized the judicial ruling as a direct interference with the mass deportation plans pursued by the Republican administration.
Understanding the Recent Court Ruling on Parole Programs
What did Judge Indira Talwani rule regarding the parole programs?
Judge Indira Talwani ordered the DHS to resume processing parole applications, temporarily blocking the Trump administration from ending these programs.
Which countries are affected by this court ruling?
The court ruling affects migrants from Cuba, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela seeking parole or status adjustments.
How did the Trump administration respond to the judge's decision?
The Trump administration has appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court to suspend Judge Talwani's decision while the appeal is underway.