As a follow-up to the April 14 update regarding the federal court’s temporary block on the Trump administration’s termination of the Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela (CHNV) parole program, a new ruling has now been issued that broadens and solidifies protections for a wide range of humanitarian parole beneficiaries.
In Svitlana Doe v. Noem, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts has directed the federal government to resume processing applications for more stable immigration benefits — including work permits, adjustment of status, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), asylum and re-parole — for individuals who were granted parole through programs such as:
- CHNV humanitarian parole
- Uniting for Ukraine
- Operation Allies Welcome (Afghanistan)
- Central American Minors Parole
- Family Reunification Parole
- Military Parole-in-Place
The court also ordered that initial and re-parole applications filed under Military Parole-in-Place must be adjudicated, and certified nationwide classes to ensure that impacted individuals benefit from the ruling even if they are not part of individual litigation.
Key Implications for Employers
This latest decision reinforces and expands upon the earlier injunction preserving parole and work authorization for CHNV parolees. Now, parole beneficiaries across multiple programs may once again pursue lawful pathways toward more secure immigration status. Importantly:
- Work authorization pathways are restored: Beneficiaries may file for employment authorization based on other available forms of relief, including adjustment of status or re-parole, without being barred under current Department of Homeland Security (DHS) policy.
- Processing must resume: The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is now under court order to adjudicate pending and newly filed applications for relief that had previously been frozen under administrative guidance.
- Relief applies broadly: This ruling benefits individuals across the U.S., including many with valid employment authorization who were previously left in limbo due to policy changes.
Context and Ongoing Developments
This order follows the court’s April decision blocking the administration’s attempt to revoke CHNV parole and associated Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) without individualized review. That ruling is now fully briefed before the U.S. Supreme Court, where the government has requested a stay. However, the most recent decision ensures that adjudications must move forward in the interim.
According to the court, the government’s previous refusal to process applications deprived parolees of the right to pursue legal status they are otherwise eligible for under the Immigration and Nationality Act. This ruling restores fairness and procedural consistency, allowing affected individuals to take next steps toward long-term status and security.
Employer Action Items
- Continue to rely on current EAD validity: As previously advised, CHNV-based EADs remain valid until expiration; no early reverification is required.
- Prepare for new filings or renewals: Employees who are parole beneficiaries may now resume filing for additional immigration benefits and work authorization. HR teams should be prepared to review new or renewed employment verification documents and update I-9s accordingly.
- Stay alert for further updates: Given ongoing appellate review, further changes may be forthcoming. We recommend continued monitoring of both court and agency developments.
