Key Takeaways
• Judge Talwani orders resumption of key humanitarian parole programs paused by Trump administration on May 28, 2025.
• Programs like Uniting for Ukraine and Military Parole-in-Place remain active, protecting hundreds of thousands nationwide.
• Trump administration appeals to Supreme Court after losing court battles over immigration policy changes affecting parole.
A US judge has delivered a major blow to the Trump administration’s efforts to reshape immigration policy, ordering the government to resume processing key immigration programs that had been paused or halted. The decision, issued by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani in Massachusetts on May 28, 2025, immediately affects hundreds of thousands of immigrants and their families across the United States 🇺🇸. This ruling is the latest chapter in a long-running legal and political battle over the future of humanitarian parole and other immigration programs.
Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Halt on Immigration Programs
Judge Talwani’s order came after the Trump administration, following President Trump’s executive order on January 20, 2025, moved to end several Biden-era parole programs. These programs had allowed certain groups of migrants to enter and remain in the United States 🇺🇸 temporarily for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. The administration argued that these programs were not authorized by law and that parole should only be granted on a case-by-case basis.
However, Judge Talwani rejected this argument, stating that it was “not in the public interest to manufacture a circumstance in which hundreds of thousands of individuals will, over the course of several months, become unlawfully present in the country, such that these individuals cannot legally work in their communities or provide for themselves and their families.” Her ruling requires the government to resume processing applications for these programs while a class action lawsuit challenging the administration’s actions moves forward.
The court also certified nationwide classes, meaning that all individuals inside the United States 🇺🇸 who are part of these parole programs—and who do not have their own lawsuits pending—are covered by the relief ordered. This ensures that the decision has a broad impact, protecting a large number of people from losing their legal status.
Which Immigration Programs Are Affected?
The judge’s order specifically protects beneficiaries of several humanitarian parole programs, including:
- Uniting for Ukraine: A program allowing Ukrainians fleeing war to enter the United States 🇺🇸 temporarily.
- Operation Allies Welcome: Designed for Afghan evacuees who assisted the United States 🇺🇸 military or government.
- Central American Minors Parole: Allows certain children from Central America to join family members in the United States 🇺🇸.
- Family Reunification Parole: Helps families separated by borders to reunite in the United States 🇺🇸.
- Military Parole-in-Place: Supports family members of U.S. service members.
- CHNV Humanitarian Parole: Covers people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.
These programs provide a lifeline for people facing war, violence, or family separation. The court’s decision means that people in these groups can continue to apply for more stable immigration status, such as:
- Adjustment of Status: The process of applying for a green card (permanent residency) from within the United States 🇺🇸. Learn more about Adjustment of Status (Form I-485).
- Temporary Protected Status (TPS): A status given to people from countries facing natural disasters or conflict, allowing them to live and work in the United States 🇺🇸 temporarily. Find official information about TPS.
- Asylum: Protection for people who fear persecution in their home country.
- Re-parole Applications: Requests to extend or renew parole status.
The ruling also requires the government to process initial and re-parole applications for relatives of U.S. service members under Military Parole-in-Place, ensuring that military families are not separated.
How Did This Legal Battle Begin?
The legal fight began when President Trump, on his first day back in office in January 2025, signed an executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to end several parole programs created during President Biden’s administration. Acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman then instructed agencies to pause, change, or end these programs, claiming that the law only allowed parole on a case-by-case basis.
As a result, DHS stopped processing new applications for parole and, by mid-February 2025, told staff not to consider requests from people who had already been granted parole—especially those from Ukraine and Latin America—who wanted to apply for other forms of legal status, like asylum or TPS.
Advocacy groups and affected individuals quickly challenged these actions in court, arguing that the administration’s sudden changes would leave many people without legal status, unable to work, and at risk of deportation.
Previous Rulings Against the Trump Administration
This is not the first time Judge Talwani has ruled against the Trump administration’s immigration policies. In April 2025, she blocked the government from ending the parole program for citizens of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. At that time, she also certified a class of all individuals who had received parole under these programs, making sure that the court’s protection applied to everyone in the same situation.
The Trump administration claimed that these programs were full of fraud and lacked proper security checks. However, the court found that the government’s actions did not follow proper legal procedures and would cause harm to many people who had followed all the rules.
Government Response and Ongoing Appeals
The Trump administration has not accepted these rulings quietly. The Justice Department has asked the Supreme Court to suspend Judge Talwani’s April decision, arguing that federal courts are interfering with the president’s authority to set immigration policy. In a request to the Supreme Court on May 8, 2025, the Justice Department wrote, “The court’s order blocks the Executive Branch from exercising its discretionary authority over a key aspect of the Nation’s immigration and foreign policy and thwarts Congress’s express vesting of that decision in the Secretary, not courts.”
As of now, the Department of Homeland Security has not commented on Judge Talwani’s most recent order. The Supreme Court’s response to the administration’s appeal could shape the future of these and other immigration programs.
What Does This Mean for Immigrants and Their Families?
For hundreds of thousands of people, Judge Talwani’s ruling brings immediate relief. Many of those affected are parents, children, spouses, and workers who have built lives in the United States 🇺🇸. Without the court’s intervention, they would have lost their legal status, work permits, and the ability to support their families.
Karen Tumlin, Founder and Director of Justice Action Center, explained, “Our clients and class members are essential coworkers, life partners, and family members to others in the United States. They deserve to be treated like anyone else when it comes to pursuing other forms of status.”
Thanks to the ruling, affected individuals can:
- Stay legally in the United States 🇺🇸 while their cases are processed
- Keep their work permits and continue supporting themselves and their families
- Apply for more permanent immigration status if they qualify
This decision is especially important for people who have fled war, violence, or disaster and for families who would otherwise be separated by changing immigration rules.
The Bigger Picture: Immigration Policy Under the Trump Administration
Judge Talwani’s ruling comes at a time when the Trump administration is making sweeping changes to immigration policy. Some of the most notable recent developments include:
- Ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans: The Supreme Court recently allowed the administration to end TPS for nearly 350,000 Venezuelans living in the United States 🇺🇸. This move could force many people to return to a country facing political and economic crisis.
- Introducing a “Gold Card” Visa: The administration has proposed a new visa program offering permanent residency to people who invest $5 million in the United States 🇺🇸. Details are still emerging, but a government website is expected soon.
- Legal Battles Over Deportations: A federal judge ordered the government to keep custody of migrants reportedly deported to South Sudan, warning that the administration may have violated a court order.
- International Student Policy Changes: The administration recently revoked Harvard University’s certification to enroll international students, but a federal judge in Boston quickly stopped this from taking effect.
These actions show how immigration policy can change quickly, affecting people’s lives in many ways. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the ongoing court battles highlight the tension between the executive branch’s power to set immigration policy and the courts’ role in protecting the rights of individuals.
Legal Experts and Advocacy Groups Respond
Legal experts say Judge Talwani’s decision is a strong reminder that the government must follow the law when changing immigration programs. Karen Tumlin, from the Justice Action Center, said, “With this decision, so many people throughout the country will be able to breathe a huge sigh of relief. Our clients—and our class members—have done everything the government asked of them, and we’re gratified to see that the court will not allow the government to fail to uphold its side of the bargain.”
Advocacy groups argue that sudden changes to immigration policy can cause chaos and harm to people who have followed all the rules. They say that courts play an important role in making sure the government acts fairly and does not leave people in legal limbo.
What Happens Next?
The legal fight over these immigration programs is far from over. The Trump administration has already appealed previous rulings to the Supreme Court and is likely to challenge Judge Talwani’s latest order as well. The Supreme Court’s decision on whether to pause the court’s protection for parole program beneficiaries will be closely watched.
For now, people who entered the United States 🇺🇸 through these programs can continue to live and work legally while their cases move through the courts. However, the uncertainty is stressful for many families, who do not know what the future holds.
Practical Guidance for Affected Individuals
If you are part of one of the affected parole programs, here are some steps you can take:
- Check your current status: Make sure you know which program you are in and what your current legal status is.
- Stay informed: Follow updates from trusted sources, such as USCIS and advocacy organizations.
- Apply for other forms of status if eligible: If you qualify for adjustment of status, asylum, or TPS, consider applying as soon as possible. Use official forms, such as Form I-485 for Adjustment of Status.
- Consult a qualified immigration attorney: Legal advice can help you understand your options and avoid mistakes.
- Keep copies of all documents: Save all paperwork related to your immigration case, including receipts, notices, and correspondence.
Implications for Employers, Schools, and Communities
The court’s decision also affects employers, schools, and communities that rely on immigrants for work, study, and family life. Employers can continue to employ workers with valid work permits, and schools can keep enrolling students who are part of these programs.
Community organizations and local governments should be aware of the changing legal landscape and be ready to support affected individuals with information and resources.
Where to Find Official Information
For the most up-to-date information on immigration programs, forms, and policies, visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website. This site provides official guidance, forms, and news about changes to immigration law.
Conclusion: The Road Ahead
Judge Talwani’s ruling is a major development in the ongoing debate over immigration policy in the United States 🇺🇸. While the Trump administration continues to push for stricter rules and the end of many humanitarian programs, the courts have stepped in to protect the rights of immigrants and their families.
The outcome of this legal battle will shape the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and set important precedents for how immigration policy can be changed in the future. For now, affected individuals can breathe a little easier, knowing that they have the right to stay, work, and pursue a more secure future in the United States 🇺🇸—at least until the next court decision.
Stay informed, know your rights, and seek help if you are affected by these changes. The story of immigration in the United States 🇺🇸 is still being written, and every court decision plays a part in shaping that story.
Learn Today
Humanitarian Parole → Temporary permission to enter or remain in the US for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.
Adjustment of Status → Process for immigrants to apply for permanent residency (green card) without leaving the United States.
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) → Temporary legal status during crises that allows affected nationals to live and work in the US.
Class Action Lawsuit → A legal action where one or more plaintiffs represent a larger group with similar claims.
Executive Order → An official directive from the president that manages operations of the federal government, including immigration policy.
This Article in a Nutshell
A US judge halted Trump’s attempt to end vital humanitarian parole programs, allowing affected immigrants to keep legal status and work permits while legal challenges continue.
— By VisaVerge.com
