Federal Judge Blocks Trump Move to Halt Migrant Parole Programs

A federal judge in Boston has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from suspending parole programs that have enabled hundreds of thousands of migrants with U.S. sponsors to legally enter the country. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani issued the ruling on Wednesday, ordering the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to resume processing applications for migrants covered by the programs, including those from Ukraine, Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.

The decision came as part of a class action lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's pause on both new and existing parole applications. These programs, initiated during the Biden administration, offered a pathway for migrants with sponsors to seek legal entry and potential immigration relief.

Talwani, appointed by former President Barack Obama, rejected the administration’s argument that halting these programs fell within DHS's discretionary authority. She emphasized that federal law mandates a formal process when granting or denying parole or immigration relief, regardless of executive direction.

The ruling also follows Talwani’s earlier April decision blocking the administration’s attempt to revoke temporary protected status for hundreds of thousands of migrants from similar countries. The administration has appealed that decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The latest policy changes stemmed from President Trump’s executive order signed on January 20, his first day back in office, directing DHS to end the Biden-era parole programs. Acting DHS Secretary Benjamine Huffman then instructed agencies to pause or terminate categorical parole policies, claiming they violated legal requirements by not being assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Following the directive, DHS halted processing new applications and restricted existing parolees from applying for other immigration protections. Neither DHS nor the plaintiffs' attorneys have commented on the ruling.