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Americas United States | Commentary

Let Them Stay Update #4 August 22, 2025

By Yael Schacher | August 22, 2025

This is a monthly newsletter about humanitarian parole and policy changes impacting people who entered the United States on parole and their supporters. The newsletter includes updates on policy, litigation, and Congressional activity impacting parole, tells stories about people on parole and their communities, and shares resources and explainers. It is part of a campaign to oppose attacks on parole and immigration enforcement efforts against parolees because they imperil people in need of safety and deprive American cities and towns of beloved and valuable community members. 

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Latest on Litigation

Doe v. Noem is a case challenging the mass termination of the Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela (CHNV) parole processes and the halting of adjudications of immigration applications for parolees who entered on CHNV and other parole programs including Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) and family reunification parole.

Here’s where we are: 

The First Circuit Court of Appeals held a hearing on July 29, 2025, and a decision may come down at any time. During oral arguments, Drew Ensign (representing the government) argued that the courts have no authority to review Secretary Noem’s parole policy (even if the policy exceeds the authority given by Congress in the statute). While Ensign conceded that he was not sure how parole programs have been terminated in the past, he insisted that “case by case” determinations apply for grants, but not to terminations, of parole. The attorney representing humanitarian parolees argued that to terminate parole, DHS needs to determine that the purposes of parole have been served. Secretary Noem did not adequately terminate the CHNV program categorically, the attorney argued, since she did not address any of the humanitarian reasons for parole for nationals from the CHNV countries. 

In response to a question by the judge, the administration reported to the court that, since it terminated CHNV in late April, DHS has re-paroled only two individuals previously paroled through CHNV. 

Sileiri Doe et. al. v. DHS et. al. is a new class action lawsuit filed on August 11 challenging mass termination of parole and revocation of work authorization of people who waited for CBP One appointments and entered through land border ports of entry. 

Here’s where we are: 

The plaintiffs in the case are the Venezuelan Association of Massachusetts (which has 675 members who entered with CBP One appointments) and Venezuelan, Cuban, and Haitian parolees, on behalf of themselves and others in the same situation, namely: they suddenly received a mass email terminating their parole without individualized explanation. The complaint argues that the mass termination of parole subjects the plaintiffs to elevated risk of detention and removal, termination of eligibility for certain benefits available to those with lawful status, and revocations of work authorization, which impairs their ability to provide for their families and to pay for legal representation necessary to apply for asylum or seek an adjustment in immigration status. 

CHIRLA v. Noem is a case challenging the administration’s placement of people who entered through parole into expedited removal, a fast-track deportation process. 

Here’s where we are: 

On August 1, Judge Cobb blocked three directives from the Trump administration authorizing expedited removal of individuals who were paroled into the United States at a port of entry. As the Judge wrote: 

“This case presents a question of fair play. Plaintiffs’ members, and hundreds of thousands of others like them, fled oppressive regimes and perilous conditions in their home countries. They arrived for inspection at the United States border pursuant to procedures created and advocated by the U.S. Government. They were paroled into this country under those procedures and given the chance to prove their claims for asylum or other relief authorized by our laws…Now, the Government has not only closed off those pathways for new arrivals but changed the game for parolees already here, restricting their ability to seek immigration relief and subjecting them to summary removal despite statutory law prohibiting the Executive Branch from doing so.” 

The Trump administration appealed to the Circuit Court, which has partially stayed Judge Cobb’s decision such that the administration can subject individuals paroled into the U.S. less than two years ago to expedited removal. 

Latest on Enforcement Policies 

Even as enforcement against parolees was halted by litigation this past month, the Trump administration has been expanding detention capacity and paving the way for denial of relief and deportation of humanitarian parolees. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) now has the authority to place people, including parolees who have filed affirmative asylum applications, in expedited removal. Further, USCIS is implementing significant changes to the factors it uses in adjudicating benefits requests “where an exercise of discretion is required,” and will be closely scrutinizing applications by parolees. And over the past few weeks, DHS and the State department have continued to make deals to facilitate deportation of asylum seekers and those with orders of removal from the United States to third countries that they have no ties to—and whose abusive human rights records have been sanitized in State Department reports.  

In former newsletters we have discussed the case of a paroled Venezuelan high school student who was arrested at immigration court in New York in May. He remains detained at the notorious Moshannon detention center in Pennsylvania. His supporters are sending letters to the ICE field office in Pennsylvania, urging them to release him so that he can be reunited with his mother and siblings.  

Latest from Congress

There are several pieces of legislation currently on the Congressional docket that would provide legal protections for parolee populations: 

  • The Ukrainian Adjustment Act (H.R. 3104), introduced by Rep. Keating (D-MA-09), would provide eligible Ukrainian nationals with a pathway to lawful permanent resident status. 
  • The Protecting Our Guests During Hostilities in Ukraine Act (H.R. 2118 / S. 696), introduced by Rep. Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01) and Sen. Durbin (D-IL), would grant temporary guest status to Ukrainians paroled under the Uniting for Ukraine program launched in 2022. 
  • The Afghan Adjustment Act (H.R. 4895), introduced by Rep. Miller-Meeks, would establish a pathway to permanent resident status for Afghan nationals. The bill also authorizes remote processing for those still in Afghanistan, creates an interagency task force to improve program efficiency, and mandates regular reporting on program implementation. Its Senate companion, the Fulfilling Promises to Afghan Allies Act (S. 2679), introduced by Sen. Klobuchar, similarly provides a pathway to permanent resident status for Afghan nationals and includes additional provisions to strengthen resettlement and protection efforts for Afghans.
  • The Venezuela Adjustment Act (H.R. 1348), introduced by Rep. Darren Soto (D-FL-09) would authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to adjust the status of certain Venezuelan nationals to lawfully admitted for permanent residence. The bill impacts Venezuelan nationals who entered the United States before or on December 31, 2021, and have been continuously physically present for at least one year. It also extends benefits to their spouses, children, and unmarried sons or daughters. 
  • The Venezuela TPS Act of 2025 (H.R. 3310), introduced by Rep. Darren Soto (D-FL-09), would grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Venezuelan nationals who have been continuously present in the United States since the enactment date and meet specific admissibility criteria. The initial designation period is set for 18 months from the enactment date. Eligible individuals must register for TPS as per the guidelines established by the Secretary of Homeland Security. 

Resources for Parolees

We’re updating resources for people with humanitarian parole in multiple languages every other week.

Need this resource in another language? Or is there another language you can help translate this resource into? Contact Yael Schacher yschacher@refugeesinternational.org. 

Story Spotlight

Mariia Yatsko arrived in the United States with her son and just two backpacks after fleeing war in her hometown, Kharkiv. She entered through the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) humanitarian parole program. But like many Ukrainians parolees, her future in the United States is far from certain. Now she’s advocating for her own family and other humanitarian parolees like them. Families like Mariia’s should be allowed to stay in the United States where they are living and working in safety. Watch and share her story.

In the Media

Partner Resources

Have a story, update, or resource you want included in next month’s Let Them Stay Update? Contact Yael Schacher yschacher@refugeesinternational.org. 

Share this newsletter with your network. Want to subscribe? Contact Eliza Leal at eleal@refugeesinternational.org. 

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