Judge will halt Trump Administration from Ending Humanitarian Parole for People from Four Countries

A federal judge announced Thursday she will block the Trump administration’s effort to force hundreds of thousands of immigrants from four countries—Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela—to leave the U.S. later this month. The ruling is a major legal setback for the administration’s immigration crackdown and provides temporary relief to those affected. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani said she will issue a stay on the administration’s planned termination of humanitarian parole protections for over 500,000 individuals. Their temporary status was scheduled to end on April 24. Many of the individuals came to the U.S. through legal channels during the Biden administration under a humanitarian parole program that allows two years of legal residence and work authorization.

Judge Questions Legal Grounds for Program Termination

During a court hearing, Judge Talwani raised serious concerns about the legality of the administration’s decision. She pointed out that the Department of Homeland Security had not provided a clear or lawful justification for abruptly ending the parole program. “The government must have a reasoned explanation,” Talwani said, criticizing the decision as based on a misinterpretation of immigration law. She emphasized that people who entered legally under this program now face impossible choices—either flee the country or risk being detained and losing everything. Talwani stressed that while parole is technically temporary, there was an expectation of due process and stability under the program’s original terms. “There was a deal, and now that deal has been undercut,” she said.

Immigrants and Advocates React to the Ruling

For many immigrants living under the parole program, the judge’s statement brought immediate relief. Cesar Baez, a 24-year-old Venezuelan political dissident, said he feared persecution if forced to return home. “It is very important for me to have protections and not be removed to Venezuela,” he said, noting that he has also applied for asylum and a work visa—both of which are now in limbo.

Zamora, a Cuban woman whose parole is set to expire in September, said she was terrified of losing her work permit. “We’re not criminals,” she said. “We’ve gone through background checks and followed every rule, but the government treats us like we came here illegally.”

Immigration advocates argue the administration’s move violates federal rule-making procedures and punishes people who entered legally. Guerline Jozef of the Haitian Bridge Alliance said the policy contradicted claims that the government supports legal immigration pathways.

Deportation Plan Draws Limited Political Pushback

Despite the potential impact on over half a million immigrants, the administration’s move has not faced significant opposition from most Republican lawmakers. However, a few Cuban-American members of Congress have spoken out. Rep. Maria Salazar of Florida joined a bipartisan bill that would offer a path to permanent residency for those affected. Government attorneys argue that ending the parole program doesn’t mean automatic deportation and that individuals can still apply for other legal pathways. But Judge Talwani was skeptical, noting the real risk of detention during routine interactions with law enforcement or medical services.