DHS Memo Pauses Applications Filed on Behalf of Certain Nationals

The Trump Administration enacted a pause on all immigration applications filed by certain applicants from Latin America and Ukraine who entered the United States legally under humanitarian and family reunification parole programs.

Those affected include beneficiaries of: Uniting for Ukraine, the CHNV parole program, and a family reunification program for Colombians, Ecuadorians, Central Americans, Haitians, and Cubans with American relatives who were beneficiaries of pending family-based petitions. Nearly 250,000 Ukrainians entered under the Uniting for Ukraine program, a temporary parole set up for those fleeing the Russian invasion with American sponsors.

Once legally in the United States, many beneficiaries of these programs have applied for other legal statuses to remain in the United States, such as Temporary Protected Status (for Haitians, Ukrainians, and Venezuelans), asylum (for those fleeing persecution), and adjustment to legal permanent residency (for beneficiaries of qualifying petitions).

DHS states the decision is warranted based on concerns for public safety or national security, citing issues of fraud in parole applications. The memo states that the pause could be lifted, but only after the Department conducts “a comprehensive review and evaluation of the in-country population of aliens who are or were paroled into the United States under these categorial parole programs.” In addition, the Trump Administration has also sought deportation for parolees who entered the United States under the CHNV and whose benefits are scheduled to expire on April 24, 2025.

Given its indefinite length and the lack of transparency, this internal memo creates uncertainty for thousands of beneficiaries of these programs who legally entered the United States to flee dangerous circumstances or reunite with family members as they waited for pending family petitions.