BOSTON (AP) — A federal judge has declared her intention to prevent the Trump administration from requiring hundreds of thousands of Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans with temporary legal status to leave the United States at the end of this month.
This decision poses a significant, albeit potentially temporary, setback for the administration as it works to dismantle policies initiated during the Biden era, which had provided new and expanded pathways for individuals to reside in the U.S. for a period of two years with work authorization.
U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani announced her plans to issue a stay on an order that would have mandated over 500,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans to depart the country, sparing them from deportation until the case progresses to the next phase.
Permits for these individuals were scheduled for cancellation on April 24.
In the courtroom, Talwani voiced her skepticism towards the government’s justification for ending humanitarian parole for these four nationalities, highlighting that individuals currently in the program face the dire options of either “fleeing the country” or remaining and risking the loss of everything they have built.
Talwani noted, “The nub of the problem here is that the secretary, in cutting short the parole period afforded to these individuals, has to have a reasoned decision,” adding that the rationale for terminating the program was “based on an incorrect reading of the law.”
She later remarked, “There was a deal and now that deal has been undercut.”
Last month, the Biden administration made the controversial decision to revoke legal protections for a significant number of Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans, placing them at risk of deportation within 30 days.
These individuals had previously arrived in the U.S. with financial sponsors, applying online and self-funding their airfare to secure two-year permits for residence and work.
During this period, beneficiaries were expected to seek out other legal pathways should they wish to extend their stay in the country, as parole status remains temporary.
President Donald Trump has made strides to eliminate legal avenues for immigrants attempting to enter the U.S., fulfilling campaign promises aimed at deporting millions of undocumented individuals residing in the country.
Outside the courthouse, immigration advocates protested against the administration’s actions, which they argue contradict the government’s message regarding immigration policy.
Guerline Jozef, the founder and executive director of the Haitian Bridge Alliance and one of the plaintiffs in the ongoing lawsuit, stated, “We hear the narrative of people coming here illegally and the administration wanting to erase illegal immigration.
But, we clearly see today that is not the case.
Even those people who have legal status, are paying their taxes and working, are under attack.”
Cesar Baez, a Venezuelan political opposition activist, shared his fears for personal safety, explaining his decision to leave Venezuela under the sponsorship of a doctor.
Having arrived under the humanitarian parole program in December 2022, Baez has been employed as a producer at a media organization in Washington for the past year.
He has explored the possibility of obtaining legal status through a work visa and has also filed for asylum, though both processes have faced delays under the Trump administration.
Baez expressed hope at the judge’s announcement, stating, “It is very important for me to have protections and not be removed to Venezuela.
I have no doubt that if I set foot in the country, I would immediately be imprisoned.”
Zamora, a 34-year-old woman from Cuba who requested anonymity due to fears of detention and deportation, expressed relief upon receiving the judge’s news.
“I was terrified of being left without a work permit,” she said, noting that her parole and work permit are set to expire in September.
“We are people who, in order to come here, have gone through several background checks, and the government takes away our status as if we had been criminals and entered illegally.”
Advocates have labeled the administration’s move as “unprecedented,” expressing concerns that it would lead to individuals losing their legal status and their ability to work, and argued that it violated federal rule-making protocols.
The government’s attorney, Brian Ward, contended during the hearing that the cessation of the program does not imply that those affected cannot be considered for other immigration options.
He also assured that the government would not prioritize deportations of the affected individuals — a claim Talwani found dubious, especially given the potential risks of arrest for those seeking medical assistance or involved in accidents.
The elimination of temporary protections for these immigrants has sparked limited political backlash among Republican legislators, save for three Cuban-American representatives from Florida who have advocated against the deportation of those Venezuelans impacted.
Among them, Rep. Maria Salazar of Miami has also joined approximately 200 congressional Democrats in co-sponsoring legislation that would facilitate the pathway to lawful permanent residency for those affected.
This ongoing legal battle reveals the complexities of immigration policy and the challenges faced by individuals who relied on temporary protections for security and stability in the U.S.
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