Department of Homeland Security officials have issued orders to pause a variety of programs that allow immigrants to temporarily settle in the United States, including a key initiative that provides an on-ramp for Ukrainians.
The guidance, contained in an email sent Thursday from a top U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services official obtained by The New York Times, calls for an immediate suspension of “final decisions” on applications related to the program while the administration reviews and decides on them. Whether to quit or not.
The scope of the programs referenced in the moratorium is vast, and this decision will block the entry of migrants fleeing the most unstable and desperate places in the world. In addition to Ukraine, which has been devastated by years of war, the program has provided a path for immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela and elsewhere.
The decision also suggests that the Trump administration plans to crack down on a wide range of programs that temporarily allow entry into the country.
“This suspension of parole decisions is similar to the suspension of all asylum access at the border and the suspension of refugee programs,” said Yael Schacher, Americas and Europe director for Refugees International. “This is evidence of the government’s hostility to all humanitarian immigration.”
Administration officials have said President Trump believes many of the programs were never legal to begin with. He signed an order Monday calling on the Department of Homeland Security to end “all categorical parole programs that are contrary to the policies of the United States established by executive order” or programs that allow entry to a wide range of people. Temporary status known as parole.
The acting director of the Department of Homeland Security ordered the agency Monday to review its parole program to ensure it meets President Trump’s requirements and, if necessary, to pause the program while he conducts the review.
A U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services spokesperson confirmed the existence of the guidance issued this week but had no further comment.
Trump administration officials have been particularly critical of programs such as one that allows more than 500,000 immigrants from Cuba, Venezuela, Haiti and Nicaragua to enter the country on parole if they have a financial backer. On Monday, the Trump administration quickly ended one program that allowed immigrants to enter ports of entry using a government app called CBP One.
Affected programs also include United for Ukraine, a Biden-era initiative that allowed Ukrainian immigrants to temporarily enter the United States if they had a financial sponsor. As of September 2023, more than 150,000 Ukrainians had participated in the program, according to government data.
The guidance also suspends decisions on applications for programs that allow certain families to reunite in the United States and another plan for Central American minors who have family in the United States.
Jolan Cannoyoungs contributed to the report.
