Thousands of Cubans residing in the United States who meet the requirements to apply for permanent residency are facing growing uncertainty due to the standstill of their immigration processes.
In light of this situation, a group of attorneys is preparing a federal lawsuit against the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) with the aim of compelling the government to process thousands of applications that remain stalled.
The legal initiative is being driven by immigration attorney Claudia Cañizares along with fellow attorney Mark Prada, who assert that the halt in processing has impacted a significant number of Cuban applicants who entered the country through various immigration pathways and later applied for permanent residency under the Cuban Adjustment Act.
According to Cañizares, the number of affected cases is considerable.
"What we are seeking with this lawsuit is to advance these processes, demonstrate that they are causing harm to this community, and ultimately secure their residency approval," stated the lawyer in recent comments to journalist Maylin Legañoa for Telemundo 51.
According to their estimate, more than 100,000 cases could be affected by the suspension or delay in processing permanent residency applications, known as green cards.
During the waiting period, many applicants have not only seen their applications frozen but have also faced additional obstacles.
The lawyer noted that in numerous cases, work permits have been denied, causing serious economic and legal difficulties for families who had already begun their immigration regularization process.
Who could join the lawsuit?
The legal action is primarily aimed at Cuban citizens who entered the United States through specific immigration programs and later applied for permanent residency under the Cuban Adjustment Act.
Among the potential beneficiaries are:
-Cubans who entered through the Family Reunification Program.
-Individuals admitted under Humanitarian Parole.
-Migrants who entered with appointments from the CBP One system.
-Applicants for residency under the Cuban Adjustment Act.
-Persons who are not detained by immigration authorities.
According to Cañizares, since this is a class action lawsuit, there is a possibility that the federal government could reach a judicial agreement that would expedite the review of pending cases.
The lawyer also pointed out that the government itself has acknowledged that the pause in the processes is indefinite, as the administration has reserved the right to review or renew that suspension whenever it deems it necessary.
Participation should not involve reprisals
In response to the fears of some migrants about getting involved in legal action against a federal agency, Cañizares assured that the participants have protective measures in place.
"In these types of cases, protections are requested to prevent individuals from facing retaliation," he explained.
Costs to join the legal action
Participation in the lawsuit is not free of charge. According to the legal team, the fees vary depending on the family composition.
The initial cost starts at $4,000 for one person, while it rises to $6,000 for couples or single mothers with children, and can reach up to $8,000 for families with more than four members.
The lawyers indicated that there are financing options available through credit companies, as well as adjustable payment plans for those who wish to join the process.
In the event that the litigation leads to an agreement with the government, some cases could be resolved relatively quickly.
"If we reach an agreement with the government, it can be given immediately, as soon as in one, two, or three months," Cañizares stated.
How to start the process
Interested individuals can contact the law firm directly at 305-680-0036.
The team recommends sending a text message or WhatsApp with the phrase: “I am interested in joining the lawsuit.”
It is also possible to complete an online form, after which the legal team follows up with phone calls or sends additional information via email.
Background and context
The halt of numerous immigration processes occurs within the framework of a broader policy adopted by the Donald Trump administration, which ordered a temporary suspension of the processing of various immigration benefits—including asylum, permanent residency, and naturalization—for citizens of 19 countries deemed high-risk, including Cuba and Venezuela.
The measure was formalized through a memorandum from USCIS issued in December 2025, which instructed officials to pause multiple applications while a comprehensive national security review was conducted.
The order also established the reevaluation of certain previously approved immigration benefits for applicants from those countries.
The policy is also linked to the presidential proclamation known as the “travel ban,” signed in June 2025, which restricted the issuance of several categories of visas for Cuban citizens, including those for tourism, business, study, and academic exchange.
In that context, thousands of migrants who are already in the United States—many of whom were admitted through humanitarian programs or family reunification processes—have found themselves trapped in a migratory limbo as they await the processing of their permanent residency applications.
The impending federal lawsuit now aims to pressure authorities to reactivate those files and provide a response to those who claim to have met all the requirements to regularize their status in the country.
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