Sponsor Latin Americans

As of Jan. 28, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has ended the Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans (CHNV) program. The program is not accepting new applications, pending applications will not be processed, and no new travel authorization will be issued.

Immigration officials can review the cases of people in the United States on humanitarian parole and decide to end an individual’s parole status, beginning the process of removing them from the United States. In addition, reports on Jan. 31, 2025, suggest that President Trump’s administration may soon announce the immediate termination of humanitarian parole status through CHNV.

As we monitor and share these policy changes impacting sponsorship programs, we strongly recommend that newcomers apply for another legal status if they qualify. Sponsors can help by connecting newcomers with legal services. Learn more in our guide to alternative legal options for humanitarian parolees.

With the end of the CHNV program, pending applications or approved sponsorships for newcomers that have not arrived are halted.

With the pause of Uniting for Ukraine, it is unclear if pending applications will be processed. Approved sponsorships for newcomers that have not arrived are halted. It is unclear if or when the program will be restarted. We are closely monitoring official updates and will share further information as it becomes available.

If you have additional questions about a specific case, you can ask your congressional representatives to follow up directly with USCIS on your behalf. Use our sponsor and welcomer guide for information on how.

On Jan. 31, 2025, reports suggest that President Trump’s administration may soon announce the immediate termination of humanitarian parole status through CHNV, and other reliable reports suggest this also may apply to U4U.

As of January 28, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has ended the Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans (CHNV) program and paused the Uniting for Ukraine program. Neither program is accepting new applications, pending applications will not be processed, and no new travel authorization will be issued.

In addition, DHS announced that immigration officials may start reviewing the cases of people in the United States on humanitarian parole.

As part of that review, officials may decide to end an individual’s parole status and could begin the process of removing them from the United States. This announcement could include people who arrived through humanitarian parole processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, Venezuelans, Ukrainians and Afghans.

There is still a lot we don’t know about the scope of these changes, as well as when and how they will be carried out. We strongly recommend, however, that newcomers apply for asylum or another permanent status if they qualify. Sponsors can help by connecting them with legal services. Check out our guide to legal options for support.

We are tracking media reports that on Feb. 14, the Department of Homeland Security issued an internal memo suspending decision-making on all immigration applications filed by individuals who arrived in the United States through several sponsorship programs, including Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) and the Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans (CHNV). The directive indicates that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will not approve any alternative forms of legal status many sponsored individuals are seeking while this pause is in place. This includes applications filed for asylum, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), advance parole travel, adjustment of status to permanent residence, naturalization, and all other applications filed to USCIS.

The memo has not been made public, and many questions remain, including if it will be challenged in court. We continue to strongly recommend that sponsored newcomers apply for alternative legal status, including asylum, if eligible, based on guidance from legal experts. Sponsors can help by connecting newcomers with legal services. Check out our guide to alternative legal options for support. We will continue to monitor policy changes and share updated recommendations as they impact sponsorship programs.