Featured Issue: Parole Programs under the Trump Administration
This featured issue page provides resources and updates on Trump Administration changes impacting parole programs and related applications. Emphasizing adaptability and well-being, AILA supports members in navigating the challenges posed by these changes by providing this collection of relevant government announcements and practice resources. This page is a living document, and we will be adding additional material and documents as they become available.
Browse the Featured Issue: Parole Programs under the Trump Administration collection
Practice Alert: USCIS Memo on Administrative Hold on Certain Parole Programs
AILA provides a practice alert on the 2/14/25 memorandum from Andrew Davidson, Acting Deputy Director, authorizing an “immediate USCIS-wide administrative hold on all pending benefits requests” filed by noncitizens who are or were paroled into the United States under the U4U, CHNV, or FRP processes.
Trump Administration Terminates Lawful Status of Nearly 500,000 Foreign Nationals, Throwing Families, Employers, and Communities into Turmoil
AILA President Kelli Stump and Executive Director Ben Johnson warn of the harm of terminating the successful Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV) parole program.
DHS Notice Terminating CHNV Parole Processes
DHS notice stating that DHS is terminating the categorical parole programs as of 3/25/25 for inadmissible noncitizens from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV) and their immediate family members. (90 FR 13611, 3/25/25)
White House Releases Fact Sheet on Executive Order Ending Federal Benefits for Undocumented Immigrants
The White House released a fact sheet stating that, on 2/19/25, President Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) directing federal departments and agencies to identify all federally funded programs currently providing financial benefits to undocumented immigrants and to “take corrective action.”
Practice Alert: Possible Termination of CHNV Current Parole Grants
Due to the Securing our Borders Executive Order, AILA members should be prepared for an attempt to immediately terminate current parole grants and for the administration to treat these individuals as immediate removal priorities if an application for lawful status, including TPS, has not been filed.
USCIS February 14, 2025 Benefits Pause Memo
The Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP) and Human Rights First (HRF) litigated ASAP's expedited FOIA request for this memo. The attached PDF is a version the government submitted in support of its opposition to plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction in Justice Action Center.
Executive Order on U.S. Border Security
On 1/20/25, President Trump issued Executive Order (EO) 14165 that calls for a number of DHS and DOD measures, including physical barriers; increased border personnel; expanded detention; Remain in Mexico policies; ceasing use of CBP One; terminating parole programs; and more. (90 FR 8467, 1/30/25)
USCIS Pauses Acceptance of Form I-134A
USCIS announced that it is pausing acceptance of Form I-134A, Online Request to be a Supporter and Declaration of Financial Support, until it reviews all categorical parole processes, as required by the 1/20/25 Executive Order (EO) entitled “Securing Our Borders.”
CBP's Carrier Liaison Program Announces Updated Guidance Based on EO, Securing Our Borders
Updated guidance has been issued to airline carriers in relation to all impacted programs: U4U, OAW, FRP, CHNV, SMO, CAM.
Practice Alert: Significant Implications for Parolees in New DHS Memo
A new DHS memo has significant implications for any clients who entered on parole and how DHS plans to implement the recent executive order that expanded expedited removal to include noncitizens who entered in the past two years and are in the interior of the U.S.
DHS Issues Guidance on How to Exercise Enforcement Discretion
Acting DHS Secretary Benjamine Huffman issued a memo to ICE, CBP, and USCIS titled, “Guidance Regarding How to Exercise Enforcement Discretion” that outlines how to exercise enforcement discretion in implementing two new policies.
DHS Rescinds Guidelines for Enforcement Actions in or near Protected Areas and Issues Directive on Humanitarian Parole
DHS announced that on 1/20/25 Acting DHS Secretary Benjamine Huffman issued two directives, the first rescinding prior guidelines for ICE and CBP enforcement in or near protected areas, and the second ending “the broad abuse of humanitarian parole” and returning the program to a case-by-case basis.
Practice Alert: Order Rescinding a Number of EOs Impacts Immigration Policy
On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump signed the Executive Order “Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions” (“Initial Rescissions”). This Executive Order rescinds a number of Biden executive orders, many of which had in turn rescinded a Trump 1.0 executive order.
OnDemand Web Seminar: Alternatives for CHNV Clients
Download the OnDemand recording of this web seminar about exploring alternative immigration options for clients who entered the United States under the Biden Administration's parole processes for Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV).