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The U.S. government announced on Monday that it has resumed processing immigration applications for individuals under humanitarian parole programs, in compliance with a court order issued by a federal court in Massachusetts.
Among the activities that are resuming are the permanent residency procedures which, in the case of Cubans, have already been submitted under the Adjustment Act after being more than one year and one day in U.S. territory after entering the country with parole.
This important news, initially reported by Telemundo 51 citing official sources, marks a crucial turnaround following a period of administrative suspension. The decision to reactivate these processes comes in compliance with a court order issued by a federal court in Massachusetts on May 28, in the case Svitlana Doe vs. Kristi Noem, a legal battle seeking to overturn the halt on these applications.
The official confirmation came through a statement signed by Kika Scott, the current acting deputy director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
In his communication, Scott confirmed that the suspension affecting humanitarian parole requests for citizens of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (known as the CHNV programs) has been lifted.
This measure not only benefits these specific groups, but also extends its reach to other humanitarian programs.
Among them is the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) program, designed to support individuals affected by the conflict in Ukraine; the family reunification processes, which include the Cuban Family Reunification Parole Program (CFRP); and the Military Parole in Place (MPIP), aimed at certain relatives of military personnel.
The new directive, which was formally issued on June 9, grants USCIS officers the authority to resume the review and adjudication of cases that had been paused.
However, it is important to note that this resumption will be subject to the completion of an "additional review process" for each applicant, which involves ongoing scrutiny of backgrounds and compliance with legal requirements.
Despite the extensive reactivation, some specific categories of initial requests will remain on hold.
This includes requests to be a parole sponsor, cases related to Safe Mobility Offices in the Western Hemisphere (an initiative to process migrants before they reach the U.S. border), parole for Central American minors, and that granted to international entrepreneurs, suggesting that USCIS is still assessing or developing specific protocols for those categories.
The attorney Rosaly Chaviano, cited by Telemundo 51, emphasized the importance of this measure by stating that "the Government is saying that it will continue with the applications. People will receive responses to their work permits, their residencies, their asylum applications, TPS [...] everything they have submitted."
However, he also emphasized the need to keep in mind that "each request has a research process, and once it is completed, the officers can indeed adjudicate these cases", which reinforces the idea of a thorough review.
USCIS also announced that, as part of this reactivation, a series of technical adjustments will be implemented.
These include changes to their award systems, updates in online communications, modifications to the required forms, and new instructions for customer service staff.
The aim of these adjustments is to ensure that the processing of parole applications and related benefits is carried out smoothly and in accordance with the newly established guidelines.
During his analysis of the announcement, journalist Mario J. Pentón emphasized a particularly significant aspect for the Cuban community: the reactivation of permanent residency procedures.
In the case of Cubans who entered the country under humanitarian parole and have met the "one year and one day" physical presence requirement in U.S. territory, their adjustment applications under the Cuban Adjustment Act may be processed.
This is a great relief for thousands of Cubans who were hoping for the possibility of obtaining their legal status.
The formal reactivation of these processes was authorized by a memorandum issued by the acting director of USCIS, Angelica Alfonso-Royals, who gave the green light for officials to continue adjudicating the cases that had been suspended.
This memorandum also nullified the previous suspensions issued by former directors Jennifer B. Higgins and Andrew Davidson, indicating a clear change in the agency's internal policy.
The humanitarian parole program, launched in January 2023 during Joe Biden's presidency, was designed as a legal, orderly, and safe pathway for migrants coming from crisis-stricken countries.
To access this program, applicants had to meet specific requirements, which included having a financial sponsor in the United States, undergoing thorough background and health checks, and traveling by air.
This initiative represented a significant alternative to irregular crossings at the southern border.
By December 2024, the following individuals had entered the United States through the humanitarian parole program: 110,240 Cubans, 211,040 Haitians, 93,070 Nicaraguans, and 117,330 Venezuelans.
In total, 531,690 people were able to enter the United States legally through this mechanism, avoiding dangerous border crossings and finding a humanitarian alternative.
Many of these beneficiaries have settled in South Florida, where they have started a new life.
However, since Donald Trump's rise to power, beneficiaries of humanitarian parole have had to face countless setbacks, a constant threat to their status, as well as potential deportations, especially in the case of those Cubans who arrived in the U.S. just months before the current administration and did not have time to solidify their residency.
Frequently Asked Questions about Humanitarian Parole and Its Implications for Migrants in the U.S.
What does the reactivation of humanitarian parole applications in the U.S. consist of?
The reactivation of humanitarian parole requests in the U.S. means that the government has resumed processing immigration applications for individuals under humanitarian parole programs. This change occurred in compliance with a court order, allowing beneficiaries from countries such as Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to continue with their permanent residency applications and other immigration benefits. However, some specific categories of initial applications will remain on hold.
How does the suspension of humanitarian parole affect Cubans in the U.S.?
The suspension of humanitarian parole has left thousands of Cubans in a migratory limbo, unable to access permanent residency under the Cuban Adjustment Act. The administration of Donald Trump temporarily halted immigration procedures due to concerns about fraud and security. Although lawsuits have been filed to reverse this suspension, the situation remains uncertain for many Cubans hoping to regularize their status in the U.S.
What does the Supreme Court's decision on humanitarian parole mean?
The Supreme Court's decision allows the Trump administration to revoke humanitarian parole for more than 500,000 migrants, including individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. This ruling authorizes the immediate termination of the program, which could trigger mass deportations and put thousands at risk of losing their legal status in the U.S. The decision has raised concern and criticism due to its potential humanitarian consequences.
What humanitarian programs have been affected by these immigration decisions in the U.S.?
Various humanitarian programs have been affected by the recent immigration decisions in the U.S., including the humanitarian parole for Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV), the family reunification program, and the Uniting for Ukraine program. These programs provided legal pathways for entry and temporary residency in the U.S., but now face suspensions or revocations that complicate the process for beneficiaries.
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