Willy Allen, a highly regarded attorney specializing in immigration law in Florida, has shed light on the group impacted by the recent termination of the family reunification parole program for Cuba.
According to Allen, the cancellation affects "Cubans awaiting their visa in Cuba, including petitions filed by residents for spouses, minor children, unmarried adult children, married adult children, and siblings," he explained in a discussion with Cibercuba.
Conversely, it does not impact "petitions from American citizens for spouses, fiancés, minor children, or U.S. citizens on behalf of their parents," Allen clarified. He emphasized that "these cases were not part of the family reunification program as they involved immediate visas."
Allen also noted that Cubans in the U.S. who arrived under this program remain unaffected, as they are protected by the Cuban Adjustment Act.
As a result, those still in Cuba are left without "hope of bypassing their assigned number," he concluded.
Last Friday, the administration under Donald Trump announced the discontinuation of the family reunification parole program for Cuba, along with similar programs for Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, and Honduras.
For Cubans, the Cuban Family Reunification Parole (CFRP) Program, established in 2007 during George W. Bush's presidency (2001-2009), enabled U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents to request a temporary stay permit (parole) for their relatives in Cuba, expediting their entry into the United States.
This allowed family members with approved petitions to enter the U.S. before their visa was available and, in the case of Cubans, later apply under the Cuban Adjustment Act.
Immigration attorney Mayron Gallardo emphasized that the measure does not affect the I-130 family petitions, which continue as usual.
What has been removed is the fast-track route that allowed thousands to bypass years of waiting and enter with parole while their process was ongoing, Gallardo explained during a conversation with journalist Mario J. Pentón.
Now, this option is eliminated, forcing those wishing to immigrate to adhere to the standard timelines of the consular system.
Understanding the Impact of the Family Reunification Parole Termination
Who is affected by the cancellation of the Cuban Family Reunification Parole program?
Cubans waiting for their visa in Cuba are affected, including those with petitions from residents for spouses, minor children, unmarried and married adult children, and siblings.
Which immigration cases are not impacted by this policy change?
Petitions from American citizens for spouses, fiancés, minor children, or U.S. citizens on behalf of their parents are not affected, as these involve immediate visas.
How does the termination of the parole program affect Cubans already in the U.S.?
Cubans who arrived in the U.S. under the program are not affected as they are protected by the Cuban Adjustment Act.