Judge halts Trump administration plan to strip legal status from over 530,000 people

In a legal setback for the Trump administration, a federal judge on Monday blocked a plan to revoke the legal status and work permits of more than half a million immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela who were allowed into the U.S. under a Biden-era humanitarian parole program.

The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston, comes just days before the policy was set to take effect on April 24. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had issued notices last month warning these immigrants that they must leave the country voluntarily or face arrest and deportation. Those who had not applied for alternative immigration relief, such as permanent residency, were specifically targeted.

Judge Talwani, an Obama appointee, ruled that the Trump administration cannot terminate legal protections for such a large group of immigrants without conducting “case-by-case review,” as required by law.

“If their parole status is allowed to lapse, Plaintiffs will be faced with two unfavorable options: continue following the law and leave the country on their own, or await removal proceedings,” Talwani wrote in her decision. “If Plaintiffs leave the country on their own, they will face dangers in their native countries, as set forth in their affidavits.”

The Biden administration’s parole initiative — known informally as the CHNV program — was launched to allow lawful entry for individuals fleeing humanitarian crises in Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. Initially rolled out in 2022 for Venezuelans and expanded in 2023 to include the other three nations, the program granted two-year parole and work authorization to qualifying applicants.

According to DHS estimates, approximately 532,000 people entered the U.S. legally under the program. The policy was praised by supporters for creating a legal pathway for migrants who would otherwise risk crossing the southern border illegally.

However, Republican-led states challenged the program in court, arguing it bypassed standard immigration procedures and opened the door to fraud. A report from the House Judiciary Committee highlighted concerns that nearly 80,000 applications had been filed for individuals living outside the designated countries, raising red flags about vetting practices. DHS temporarily paused the program last year amid these concerns.

The Trump administration has taken a sharply different stance on immigration since returning to power, seeking to unwind many Biden-era policies. Officials have emphasized mass deportation and strict border control, citing national security and crime concerns, including the presence of foreign gang members like Venezuela’s violent Tren de Aragua.

Monday’s court decision follows a similar legal defeat last month, when a California judge stopped the administration from terminating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for more than 350,000 Venezuelans. TPS grants temporary legal residency to nationals of countries facing extraordinary hardship, such as conflict or natural disaster.

Just last week, DHS announced the impending end of TPS protections for about 14,600 Afghans and 7,900 Cameroonians, signaling the administration’s intent to roll back immigration protections across the board.

While the CHNV program remains in legal limbo, Monday’s ruling offers temporary relief to hundreds of thousands of immigrants who now await the outcome of further court battles.

For many, the decision has life-altering implications.

“For some Plaintiffs, leaving will also cause family separation,” Judge Talwani noted. “Leaving may also mean Plaintiffs will have forfeited any opportunity to obtain a remedy based on their [Administrative Procedure Act] claims.”

As the administration continues to pursue aggressive enforcement measures, the future of many immigrant communities hangs in the balance — subject to both political winds and the court system.