Last updated April 7, 2025 at 3:17 p.m. ET
Alert: As of April 4, 2025, news outlets are reporting that some individuals sponsored through Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) received an email yesterday from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) notifying them that their parole status will terminate in seven days and directing them to leave the country immediately. DHS stated that this message was sent in error to some Ukrainians who arrived through U4U and that the department has sent retraction notices. It is unclear if DHS plans to issue this same notice at a later date or to other populations. We are following the matter closely and will share updates as they become available.
On March 21, the U.S. government announced that it will terminate existing humanitarian parole status for CHNV newcomers. Learn more.
As of Jan. 31, 2025, reports suggest that President Trump’s administration may soon announce the immediate termination of existing humanitarian parole for newcomers who entered the United States through the Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans (CHNV) program or Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) sponsorship programs.
If this occurs, parolees who do not already have another status, such as Temporary Protected Status (TPS), or who do not already have a pending application for TPS or asylum, will be considered by the administration to be out of status and unauthorized to be in the U.S.
As of Jan. 28, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has ended the CHNV program and paused the U4U program. Neither program is accepting new applications, pending applications will not be processed, and no new travel authorization will be issued.
Background
Uniting for Ukraine was previously authorized in April 2023 to allow Americans to privately sponsor newcomers in need of safety under a legal status known as humanitarian parole. Humanitarian parole is a temporary immigration status that allows individuals facing urgent humanitarian crises to enter the U.S. legally. It is a discretionary status that can be granted or ended at any time by executive order of the U.S. President.
This sponsorship program was the means by which Americans have been able to legally and safely sponsor newcomers in need of refuge to come to the United States. American sponsors submitted applications to the federal government for review that included security and financial background checks, and were approved to sponsor after individual vetting by the Department of Homeland Security. The newcomers they sponsored also submitted financial and security information, were vetted by the Department of Homeland Security, and if approved, were granted permission to enter, live, and work in the United States legally.
Below is a summary of what these changes mean for the program and the people it served. Visit our policy updates page for expert guidance, FAQs, and other resources, and subscribe to receive emails with the latest updates.
Key changes:
- On Jan. 24, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security announced that it is pausing Uniting for Ukraine (U4U), effective immediately.
- The new administration’s decision to pause U4U means Americans cannot submit new applications to sponsor individuals fleeing violence and persecution in Ukraine.
If you have questions about a pending sponsorship application, please see our guide for contacting your congressional representatives for information on how to contact your representatives with concerns about a specific case or about sponsorship programs more generally.
FAQ
Does the end of the CHNV program and pause to the U4U program mean the newcomer I sponsored lost their humanitarian parole status?
The DHS announced that it will terminate the humanitarian parole status for individuals who arrived in the U.S. through the CHNV program. Termination of parole will take effect 30 days after the official notice is published. The expected publication date of the notice is March 25, 2025, meaning parole would be terminated on April 24, 2025. Additionally, if an individual's parole is set to expire earlier, termination would occur on the expiration date. DHS intends to prioritize removing individuals from the U.S. who haven’t applied for another status, like TPS or asylum, by March 25, 2025. View our CHNV policy explainer page for more information and resources.
This order of termination is specific to individuals who were sponsored through the CHNV sponsorship program. It does not apply to individuals who arrived in the U.S. through U4U, however recent reports suggest the government may also terminate humanitarian parole status for this population. Individuals who arrived through U4U and do not have another status or a pending application for another status, such as TPS or asylum, should seek professional legal counsel and apply for alternative legal status, if eligible. Learn more about applying for another status in our guide to alternative legal options for humanitarian parolees.
What happens to my pending application or approved sponsorship if the newcomer hasn’t arrived yet?
With the pause of the U4U program and the end of the CHNV program, pending applications or approved sponsorships for newcomers that have not arrived will not be processed.
The programs are not accepting new applications, pending applications will not be processed, and no new travel authorizations are being issued. We are closely monitoring official updates and will share further information as it becomes available.
If you have questions about a specific case, you can ask your congressional representatives to follow up directly with USCIS on your behalf. Use our guide for information on how.
I’m signed up or have applied to sponsor someone through the Welcome Connect platform. What happens next?
What can I do right now to support newcomers?
- Help newcomers apply for permanent legal status if eligible, like asylum.
- Reach out to your congressional representatives to offer your support for sponsorship programs. Use our guide to get involved.
- Stay informed by visiting our website for updates and resources.
Have asylum applications been paused?
There have been no changes to the asylum process for people applying from within the United States. Recent changes have limited asylum for people applying at the U.S. border.
If no immigration applications are being processed for individuals with humanitarian parole, why recommend those individuals to apply for TPS, asylum, EADs, etc.?
On Feb. 14, media reports indicated that DHS issued an internal memo suspending decision making on all immigration applications filed by individuals who arrived in the U.S. through the U4U and CHNV parole programs. This indicates that DHS will not approve any alternative forms of legal status (including Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and asylum) many sponsored individuals are seeking while this pause is in place.
However, we still strongly recommend that all individuals with a primary status of humanitarian parole seek advice from an immigration attorney immediately to determine if viable alternative statuses remain an option for them. Check out our guide to alternative legal options for support.
How does the pending lawsuit related to the termination of parole affect the CHNV or U4U newcomer I sponsored?
We are tracking the lawsuit, Doe v. Noem, that challenged the U.S. government’s actions to end humanitarian parole processes including CHNV and U4U. We will provide updates once a final order is made. For more up-to-date information, you can follow the case here.
