The Trump administration has imposed a pause on immigration applications filed by migrants from Latin American and Ukraine who were allowed into the U.S. under certain Biden-era programs, citing concerns over fraud and security. This freeze will remain until the applications are subjected to further review for potential fraud and other safety concerns.
The pause affects several programs that allowed hundreds of thousands of migrants to enter the U.S. legally under a provision called “parole,” which facilitates rapid entry for humanitarian or public benefit reasons. Parolees include those welcomed under the Biden administration in the Uniting for Ukraine program, which helped 240,000 Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion, and the CHNV program, which allowed 530,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans to enter with American sponsors. There’s also a program for migrants from countries like Colombia and Ecuador who were allowed into the U.S. to await family-based green cards.
Many migrants in these programs applied for other immigration benefits like Temporary Protected Status, asylum, or permanent residency; however, under the new directive, their applications will not be processed for now. The pause effectively prevents these individuals from changing their legal status and leaves them vulnerable to deportation if their parole status is revoked. For more information on this, and other immigration changes, contact the attorneys at Prime Path Immigration Law Firm Limited USA.
Reference:
Montoya-Galvez, Camilo. “U.S. pauses immigration applications for certain migrants welcomed under Biden.” CBS News. February 19, 2025.
