A federal judge in Massachusetts has issued a temporary injunction against President Trump’s administration from terminating a program established during Biden’s tenure that provides parole and work rights for over 500,000 immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.
US District Judge Indira Talwani decided on Monday that immigrants from the four nations are permitted to stay in the United States, where they can work legally or seek permission to adjust their status, placing a temporary halt on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from excluding their status as part of its efforts to dismantle the existing federal program.
“Should a parole status be allowed to lapse, the plaintiff faces two unfavorable choices: adhere to the law and leave the nation voluntarily or remain and endure deportation proceedings.
“For some plaintiffs, departing will also result in family separation, and leaving may also rob the plaintiff of the chance to secure relief based on their APA claims.
Oka sought comments from the White House.
The decision is a triumph for immigrants whose status was set to expire on April 24th.
“This ruling marks a significant advancement towards justice not only for the hundreds of thousands who have come to the United States through this essential process but also for American sponsors who have embraced them into their homes and communities. I remarked Karen Tamlin, founder and director of the Center for Judicial Action, an immigration advocacy organization.
The program, referred to as CHNV, enabled immigrants from Venezuela, Haiti, Cuba, and Nicaragua to enter the United States and remain for up to two years if they successfully passed health and background examinations.
More than half a million immigrants from these four nations have arrived in the United States through this parole initiative.
Efforts to terminate the program commenced in late March. Federal officials contended that the program offered short-term protections for immigrants without providing a pathway to achieving a “durable position” over the long term.
Last week, DHS Executive Director Kristi Noem halted deportation protections for migrants from Cameroon and Afghanistan, who had been shielded by temporary protected statuses since 2022.
