Press Release
Published on April 15, 2025
Judge’s ruling covers people who came through “CHNV” humanitarian parole processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans
BOSTON—A federal judge in Massachusetts ruled against the Trump administration today, halting its attempt to revoke the legal status and work permits of half a million people who came to the U.S. through a lawful pathway known as the CHNV humanitarian parole process for people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. The judge also certified a class of all individuals who have received a grant of parole that is subject to the Termination of Parole Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans, are still in the United States, and do not choose to opt out of the class in order to seek relief in separate litigation.
“This ruling is a significant step toward justice for not only the hundreds of thousands of people who entered the U.S. through this important process, but for the American sponsors who welcomed them to their homes and communities. With this decision, so many people throughout the country will be able to breathe a huge sigh of relief,” said Karen Tumlin, Founder and Director of Justice Action Center. “Our clients — and our class members — have done everything the government asked of them, and we’re gratified to see that the court will not allow the government to fail to uphold its side of the bargain.”
Justice Action Center and Human Rights First filed Svitlana Doe v. Noem on behalf of humanitarian parole beneficiaries and their U.S. sponsors from across the country, along with organizational plaintiff Haitian Bridge Alliance filed last month to challenge the Trump Administration’s unprecedented decision to end crucial humanitarian parole processes. These include: Uniting for Ukraine, Operation Allies Welcome, Central American Minors Parole, Family Reunification Parole, Military Parole-in-Place, and the process that includes Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans, known as “CHNV humanitarian parole”. Plaintiffs are also challenging the Administration’s order to USCIS to halt all pending applications for these processes and any other alternatives that may offer potential relief. The plaintiffs are represented by Justice Action Center and Human Rights First.
“Parole has been an essential component of our immigration system for decades, and for good reason, as illustrated by the experiences of the named plaintiffs in this case,” said Anwen Hughes, Director of Legal Strategy, Refugee Programs at Human Rights First. “The court rightly recognized the harm the government’s arbitrary decision-making was threatening in the lives of innocent people.”
“Hundreds of thousands of our neighbors will go to sleep tonight knowing that the Trump administration’s attempts to delegitimize and criminalize our communities have been thwarted, for now. This win is a testament to the power and dedication of our communities,” said Guerline Jozef, Executive Director and Founder of organizational plaintiff Haitian Bridge Alliance. “We are proud to stand alongside the people we serve, our partners and allies, and immigrant communities as we fight to ensure that this country that we love so much is on the right side of history, upholds the pillars of freedom, opportunity, and rule of law.”
For more than 70 years, Republican and Democratic administrations alike have established parole processes to advance important American interests, including promoting family unification, advancing urgent humanitarian interests, and enhancing migration management. In 2023, Justice Action Center and partners successfully defended the CHNV parole processes after they were challenged by Texas and other states.
Justice Action Center (JAC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting for greater justice for immigrant communities by combining litigation and storytelling. JAC is committed to bringing additional litigation resources to address unmet needs, empower clients, and change the corrosive narrative around immigrants in the U.S. Learn more at justiceactioncenter.org and follow us on Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Human Rights First is a nonprofit, nonpartisan international human rights organization based in Los Angeles, New York, and Washington D.C. For nearly 50 years, Human Rights First has worked to create a just world in which every person’s intrinsic human rights are respected and protected. Learn more at humanrightsfirst.org and follow us on Twitter/X, Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA), also known as “The Bridge”, is a grassroots community organization that advocates for fair and humane immigration policies and provides migrants and immigrants with humanitarian, legal, and social services, with a particular focus on Black migrants, the Haitian community, women and girls, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and survivors of torture and other human rights abuses. HBA also seeks to elevate the issues unique to Black migrants and builds solidarity and collective movement toward policy change. Anpil men chay pa lou (“Many hands make the load light”). Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook: @haitianbridge
haitianbridge.org
