Recent immigration news

Immigration policy in the United States is continuing to evolve, with changes that create ripple effects throughout community sponsorship programs and beyond.

Understanding the broader policy environment can help sponsors and Welcomers navigate the current landscape and how it affects their beneficiaries. Below, you’ll find summaries of five recent policy updates along with their impact on sponsors, newcomers, and our communities.

1. The Supreme Court allowed the government to terminate humanitarian parole for CHNV newcomers

On May 30, the Supreme Court granted the Trump Administration’s emergency request to terminate humanitarian parole status for individuals who arrived in the United States through the Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans (CHNV) sponsorship program.

This means CHNV newcomers without other legal protection, such as a pending asylum application, may be subject to deportation from the U.S.

Impacted individuals may be prioritized for deportation proceedings, as described in the Department of Homeland Security memorandum on expedited removal issued on Jan. 23, 2025.

If a newcomer you know is impacted by this decision:

• Get legal help immediately: All individuals with a primary status of humanitarian parole should consult an immigration attorney immediately. Find an immigration attorney through the American Immigration Lawyers Association search tool.
• Consult our parole termination resources hub, which includes resources to understand newcomers’ rights and possible next steps.

Note: This ruling does not apply to newcomers who arrived in the U.S. through Uniting for Ukraine (U4U), however recent reports suggest the government may also terminate U4U. Newcomers who arrived through U4U and do not have other legal protection, such as a pending asylum case, should seek professional legal counsel and apply for alternative legal status, if eligible.

2. The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program remains paused

The latest: A lawsuit, Pacito v. Trump, has been filed against the U.S. government’s decision to pause the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) and cut off funds for refugee resettlement. Currently, the District Court ordered the U.S. government to reinstate resettlement for a limited number of individuals who had travel confirmed and booked to arrive within two weeks of Jan. 20.

Why this matters: We are tracking this lawsuit closely and will provide updates as it affects the future of refugee resettlement and the Welcome Corps program.

3. The Supreme Court granted the U.S. government’s request to end TPS for Venezuelans

The latest: On May 19, 2025, the Supreme Court granted the U.S. government’s emergency request to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nearly 350,000 Venezuelans whose temporary status expired on April 7, 2025. TPS is a temporary legal status that provides protection from deportation, as well as eligibility for work authorization, for individuals from designated countries in crises.

Why it matters: These individuals lose their protected status immediately, are no longer eligible to live and work in the U.S., and can be subject to deportation.

4. The U.S. government is ending TPS for Afghans

The latest: On May 12, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced it will end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghans, with protections officially ending on July 14, 2025. TPS is a temporary legal immigration status that provides protection from deportation, as well as eligibility for work authorization, for individuals from designated countries in crises.

DHS cited improved security and economic conditions in Afghanistan as justification for ending the temporary protection.

Why this matters: While many recently arrived Afghans have applied for and/or received alternative legal statuses that maintain their protections, ending TPS for Afghans means that as many as 9,000 individuals who were covered by TPS as of September 2024 could face deportation. Afghanistan remains highly dangerous, especially for women, girls, religious minorities, and other vulnerable groups. A lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court in Maryland challenging the termination.

5. The version of the Trump administration’s budget bill that passed the House could significantly impact newcomers

The latest: On May 22, the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed a spending bill that, in its current form, will significantly impact newcomers.

Why it matters: The bill increases spending for detention and deportations of immigrants. Additionally, the bill imposes new immigration-related fees including:

• Annual fees for asylum seekers, TPS recipients, parole applications, and work authorization renewals
• Fees for families sponsoring unaccompanied children
• Fees for Special Immigrant Juveniles, visa renewals, and form I-94 processing

The bill also prohibits some newcomers from accessing public benefits, including SNAP, and restricts Medicaid and ACA health coverage based on immigration status.