If you came to the U.S. through a legal parole program like Uniting for Ukraine, the CHNV Program, or the Family Reunification Parole (FRP) Process —your immigration future just became highly uncertain.
USCIS has issued an immediate, agency-wide freeze on the processing of immigration benefits for people under these programs. That includes green cards, work permits, asylum applications, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and more. And there’s no timeline for when this hold will be lifted—or even if it will be lifted at all.
In this article, we’ll break down what’s in the memo, who is impacted, how this fits into broader executive actions by the Trump administration, and what it means now that DHS has taken the unprecedented step of terminating the CHNV program altogether. We’ll also look at the immediate consequences for employment authorization and deportation risk—and what limited legal options remain.
Green Card Application Processing For Parolees Paused
On February 14, 2025, USCIS issued a sweeping memorandum placing an immediate hold on all immigration benefit applications filed by individuals who entered the U.S. under three specific humanitarian parole programs: Uniting for Ukraine (U4U), CHNV for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans, and the Family Reunification Parole (FRP) process for the nationals of Colombia, Cuba, El Salvadore, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, and Ecuador.
The reason? According to the memo, USCIS is conducting additional fraud screening and national security vetting. The agency cited internal fraud concerns, especially around support affidavits (Form I-134A), and claimed that existing vetting procedures may not meet the more stringent standards set by Executive Order 14161, issued in January 2025.
This policy directly affects tens of thousands of noncitizens who entered the U.S. legally with parole and who have filed for further immigration benefits. This includes applications for:
- Asylum
- Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
- Adjustment of status (including green cards)
- Work authorization (Form I-765)
- Family-based petition (I-130)
- Employment-based petition (I-140)
- Naturalization
The hold applies to nearly every pending benefit request tied to a parolee under U4U, CHNV, or FRP. In short, if you are here under one of these programs and have submitted any type of immigration application, you should expect processing delays until this freeze is lifted.
No Timeline, No Clear Path Forward—Except Litigation
Critically, there is no stated timeline for when USCIS will complete its additional vetting or issue a follow-up memo to resume processing. The agency has only said it “may” issue a subsequent memo after it completes a comprehensive review of the in-country population of affected parolees.
Even more troubling, the memo makes clear that the hold can only be lifted on a case-by-case basis—and only with approval from the USCIS Director or Deputy Director. This includes cases that are already covered by an injunction or class-wide court order. In other words, USCIS is not recognizing court-ordered protections unless specifically authorized at the highest level.
Immigration attorneys and advocacy groups have filed lawsuits challenging these policy changes. One class action is already pending in federal court in Massachusetts, arguing that the USCIS memo and related DHS actions are illegal under the Administrative Procedure Act and violate due process.
According to the memo, only individual or class-wide litigation may result in an exception to the adjudication hold. This means legal challenges are currently the only path forward for many affected individuals.
But this isn’t just a matter of delayed paperwork. The consequences are already moving from administrative to enforcement. While the USCIS memo created uncertainty for benefit processing, DHS has now taken concrete steps to dismantle the CHNV program entirely. This means parolees under CHNV are not only seeing their applications stalled—they are now facing the loss of status, work permits, and the threat of deportation. Let’s break down what this means in practical terms.
The Termination of the CHNV Parole
First, the Department of Homeland Security has formally terminated the CHNV parole programs. This termination was published in the Federal Register on March 25, 2025, and it sets an end date of April 24, 2025 for all CHNV parole grants, unless DHS makes an individual exception. That means hundreds of thousands of Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans who entered the U.S. legally under CHNV may lose their legal basis to remain in the country within weeks.
Second, employment authorization documents (EADs) issued to CHNV parolees under category (c)(11) are also being revoked. According to DHS, once a parolee’s grant ends—on April 24, 2025, or earlier if removal proceedings are initiated—their work permit will no longer be valid. USCIS is preparing to issue revocation notices under 8 CFR 274a.14(b), with no appeal available after a final decision. In other words, even those who are employed and paying taxes could lose their legal right to work in the U.S. within a matter of days.
Third, DHS has made clear that it will pursue expedited removal proceedings for CHNV parolees who no longer have any lawful basis to remain. Under immigration law, expedited removal may be used against individuals who have been in the United States for less than two years and are deemed inadmissible. This fast-track process allows deportation with limited due process, and DHS has stated it intends to prioritize removal of those who have not filed valid applications for asylum, TPS, or other lawful status before the notice was published.
CHNV parolees are now being treated as removal priorities; the same enforcement tactics may soon be used against individuals paroled under other programs—specifically Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) and Family Reunification Parole (FRP). In fact, USCIS has already paused benefit processing for these groups as well. If they follow the CHNV model, termination and enforcement actions could be imminent.
How Francis Law Center Can Help
At Francis Law Center, immigration law is all we do. Our experienced legal team is dedicated to helping individuals and families across the United States understand their rights and options under U.S. immigration law. Whether you need help with applying for asylum, exploring relief from deportation, or navigating any other complex immigration matter, we are here to guide you every step of the way.
Hablamos español. Our Spanish-speaking team is available to assist clients who feel more comfortable communicating in Spanish. We believe language should never be a barrier when it comes to protecting your future.
For more updates, legal tips, and immigration resources, we invite you to explore our website or connect with us for a personalized consultation. We serve clients in all 50 states and are ready to help you move forward with confidence.
Contact Francis Law Center today to speak with an attorney and find the best path forward for your situation.
