Suspension in application processing affects individuals from Ukraine, Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela
A new directive from the U.S. government indefinitely suspends the processing of immigration applications filed by individuals who entered the country under the Biden administration’s “humanitarian parole” programs.
The measure, implemented by the administration of current President Donald Trump, affects thousands of individuals from Latin America and Ukraine, who had been admitted into the country under “parole” policies for humanitarian reasons or public benefit. The suspension is justified by concerns related to fraud and security, according to the document.
The administrative pause was ordered on February 14 by Andrew Davidson, a senior official with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
The decision impacts three key programs from the Biden administration, including Uniting for Ukraine, which allowed the entry of approximately 240,000 Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion who also secured U.S. sponsors before Donald Trump assumed the presidency.
It also affects the CHNV program, which benefited 530,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. Additionally, it includes a process that allowed certain migrants with U.S. family members, such as Colombians and Ecuadorians, to wait in the United States for the availability of a family-based green card.
Parole programs under scrutiny
The “parole” policy was widely used by the Joe Biden administration to provide legal pathways for migrants, aiming to reduce irregular crossings at the southern border. However, according to the cited memo, the Donald Trump administration believes these measures overstepped the authority granted by immigration law. The current suspension seeks to review potential fraud cases and improve vetting procedures.
Among the irregularities noted, Davidson mentioned applications with “serial sponsors,” use of deceased individuals’ information, and repeated addresses, which would indicate fraudulent practices. Additionally, some migrants admitted under the CHNV program may not have undergone thorough scrutiny, according to the official.
The administrative pause also affects those seeking to change their immigration status. Many beneficiaries of these programs had applied for additional protections, such as Temporary Protected Status (TPS), asylum, or green cards. However, the directive prohibits USCIS officials from processing these applications if they come from migrants admitted under Joe Biden’s parole policies.
Impact on migrants and their legal processes
The decision creates uncertainty for thousands of migrants who were already in the process of regularizing their status in the United States. The measure “effectively freezes their ability to change to another legal status.” This means that although beneficiaries of these programs have temporary work permits and protections against deportation, they could be removed if their parole status is revoked.
The Uniting for Ukraine program, for example, was designed to offer refuge to those fleeing war in their country. Now, Ukrainians admitted under this policy face an uncertain future, as do migrants from Latin America who entered through the CHNV program or family-based processes. According to the memo, the suspension may only be lifted after a thorough review of the affected cases.
However, the Trump administration has also targeted those who arrived in the United States through the parole and CHNV programs that the Biden administration issued during its term, which have now been suspended.
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