A U.S. federal judge on Wednesday ordered the Trump administration to resume processing applications for those migrants seeking work permits or renewing their status under the Biden-era parole programs. The decision, issued by U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani of Massachusetts, marks a significant setback for the Trump administration’s attempts to end the programs, which were established under former President Joe Biden.
Talwani, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, rejected the administration’s claim that suspending the parole programs was within its broad discretion to direct immigration policy. The judge emphasized that federal law requires agencies under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to follow a lengthy process for granting or denying parole and other immigration relief, as outlined in the class action lawsuit filed by migrants.
Talwani also certified a nationwide class, temporarily protecting all individuals in several humanitarian parole programs while the case proceeds. The judge highlighted that revoking the parole status of hundreds of thousands of migrants would not serve the public interest, as it could lead to unlawful presence and prevent individuals from supporting themselves and their families. The ruling also safeguards those who enlisted in the U.S. military to help their loved ones obtain legal status.
The migrants were granted a two-year ‘parole’ to live in the country under programs established by former President Joe Biden. The programs allowed migrants and their immediate family members to fly to the United States as long as they had sponsors in America. Then, they would be placed on parole for two years.
However, the Trump administration has been trying to end all parole programs as part of its immigration crackdown and has already asked the Supreme Court to weigh in on the matter. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on January 20 directing the government to end ‘all categorical parole programs’ set up during the Biden administration.
Last month, Talwani blocked the administration’s effort to revoke parole and work authorization en masse for migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, ruling that such actions required case-by-case determinations. Anwen Hughes, a lawyer for the plaintiffs at Human Rights First, expressed satisfaction with the ruling, stating that it reaffirms the government’s legal obligation to respect the rights of humanitarian parole beneficiaries and the Americans who have welcomed them into their communities.
The decision aligns with previous rulings that blocked the administration’s attempt to revoke parole and work authorization for migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. The ruling underscores the ongoing legal battles over immigration policies and highlights the tension between administrative discretion and legal mandates in the U.S. immigration system.