Recent Policy news

1. Court pauses termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians

What happened: On Feb. 2, a federal judge issued a stay, or postponement, delaying the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians. The ruling prevents the program from expiring as scheduled and keeps current protections in place while a legal challenge moves forward. More than 300,000 Haitian newcomers have sought safety in the U.S. since 2010 after fleeing widespread violence, political instability, natural disasters, and economic collapse. Many now face serious safety risks if forced to return to Haiti.

While the pause is in place, Haitian TPS holders retain work authorization and access to the benefits provided under the program. The court will next consider whether the U.S. government is legally permitted to terminate TPS for Haiti, taking into account ongoing conditions in the country.

Why it matters: TPS for Haiti was first designated more than a decade ago in response to devastating earthquakes and persistent political instability, and it has been repeatedly renewed as conditions remain unsafe. Over the years, Haitian newcomers have built lives in the U.S., raising families, working, and contributing to their communities.

Although the court’s stay offers short-term relief, it underscores how fragile these protections remain. For communities like those in the Texas Panhandle that have welcomed Haitian neighbors, this uncertainty means prolonged instability and the potential loss of friends, coworkers, and community members who have become like family.

2. Judge halts detention of lawfully resettled refugees in Minnesota under Operation PARRIS

What happened: Last month, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) launched Operation PARRIS (Post-Admission Refugee Reverification and Integrity Strengthening), an initiative aimed at reexamining the cases of thousands of refugees who were resettled in the U.S. in the last five years and have not yet received their green cards. These refugees had already undergone extensive vetting and background checks prior to being admitted into the U.S. Beginning in Minnesota, federal immigration agents began detaining lawfully resettled refugees—some of whom were transferred to detention centers in Texas before being released.

In response, a coalition of refugees and advocacy organizations filed a class action lawsuit challenging the arrest and detentions.

On Jan. 28, a federal judge issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) blocking the arrest and detention of lawfully resettled refugees in Minnesota under Operation PARRIS while the lawsuit proceeds. The court also ordered the prompt release of all refugees detained in Minnesota. This ruling applies only to Minnesota and is not a final decision on the case.

Why it matters: Operation PARRIS stems from a directive issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) calling for the re-review of more than 200,000 refugees who arrived during the Biden administration. While enforcement began in Minnesota, DHS has signaled plans to expand the operation elsewhere. The court’s intervention affirms a critical principle: refugees who entered the U.S. through safe, legal pathways and were formally resettled should not be subject to arbitrary detention. While the TRO provides urgent relief for families who were living in fear, refugees and the communities that support them continue to face uncertainty, trauma, and an unpredictable enforcement landscape.

3. Judge allows Operation Metro Surge to continue in Minnesota

What happened: On Jan. 31, a federal judge in Minnesota denied a request from state and local officials to temporarily halt Operation Metro Surge, a large-scale federal immigration enforcement effort in the Twin Cities, while litigation challenging the operation continues.

State and local leaders argued that the expanded Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) presence exceeded federal authority, caused fear and disruption in local communities, and lacked a legitimate law enforcement purpose. The judge ruled that the plaintiffs did not meet the legal threshold required to pause the operation at this stage.

As a result, the increased ICE presence in the Twin Cities may continue while the broader lawsuit moves forward.

Why it matters: Operation Metro Surge has already had significant impacts on families and neighborhoods. Detentions may continue for individuals who have sought safety in the U.S., including people with pending asylum cases—such as 5-year-old Liam and his father, who were detained despite having active applications.

Even as this enforcement continues, there is growing support from elected officials and community leaders across the country for greater accountability, transparency, and compassion in immigration enforcement, with the latest statement coming from dozens of national security and immigration policy experts who served during Republican administrations. This case highlights the tension between expanded federal authority and the well-being of local communities.

4. State Department suspends immigrant visas for 75 countries

What happened: As part of the administration’s efforts to impose stricter entry requirements, the U.S. Department of State has directed consular officers to indefinitely suspend the issuance of immigrant visas for people from 75 countries deemed “at high risk of public benefits usage.”

This suspension means that individuals from these countries who were seeking to immigrate to the U.S.—often after navigating a lengthy and complex legal process—will not receive visas while the policy remains in effect.

The affected countries include:

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Congo, Cuba, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.

People who already possess immigrant visas, including those currently outside the U.S., are not affected.

Why it matters: This visa suspension closes safe and legal pathways for families who have already navigated a lengthy and complex immigration process. This includes Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applicants who risked their lives to serve alongside U.S. forces.

By halting visas, even after approval, the policy leaves families in limbo, separates loved ones indefinitely, and undermines confidence in the fairness and reliability of America’s legal immigration system.

Previous updates

January 2026

1. All immigration applications are paused for individuals from an additional 20 countries, totaling nearly 40 countries since the initial June 2025 travel ban was issued.

What happened: On Jan. 1, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued a memo that said the U.S. government is pausing all immigration applications for people who are nationals of or are born in one of the additional 20 countries added to the travel ban on Dec. 16, 2025.* This pause on immigration applications includes applications for visas, green cards, citizenship, and asylum. The memo also stated the agency will re-review immigration applications submitted by people from the additional 20 designated countries that were approved on or after Jan. 20, 2021.

This is in addition to the already paused processing of immigration applications and re-review of immigration applications of individuals from the 19 countries identified in the June 2025 travel ban.

*The full travel ban country list includes: Afghanistan, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon, The Gambia, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, as well as individuals holding travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority.

Why it matters: Newcomers who sought safety from Afghanistan, Haiti, Venezuela, and nearly 40 countries have no way to renew their legal status or work authorization, and are at risk of losing legal status or work authorization in the U.S. This latest policy change expands the administration’s efforts to re-review newcomers who followed legal immigration processes and builds on sweeping policy changes in early December affecting refugees, asylum seekers, and many lawful permanent residents.

How to talk about it: The families impacted by this pause and re-review have followed all the rules to find safety in the U.S. When discussing this policy update with people in your life, consider centering what you share on the personal, relatable impacts, such as the uncertainty parents must feel for their children and the desire to provide for their families.

2. Many Venezuelans in the U.S. remain uncertain about their future and legal status to live and work here.

What happened: Many Venezuelans in the U.S. remain in limbo after U.S. action in Venezuela last week. Last year, President Trump’s administration revoked Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans in the U.S. and revoked legal status for Venezuelans who arrived through the Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans. Earlier this week, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Noem indicated Venezuelans may have the opportunity to “apply for refugee status.” However, a DHS social media account later said Secretary Noem’s comments were mischaracterized and clarified that Venezuelans already in the U.S. cannot apply for refugee status and TPS for Venezuela remains terminated.

Why it matters: The end of TPS last year affected more than 500,000 Venezuelans who were legally in the U.S. Many Venezuelan nationals who arrived in the U.S. after fleeing violence and persecution remain in limbo after the safe, legal programs that granted them temporary status were terminated, and no additional protections became available.

How to talk about it: More than 500,000 Venezuelans relied on TPS to remain safely in the U.S. Although the hope is that they can return to peace and freedom in their country, this evolving situation is complex, and the circumstances for every newcomer’s case is different. When discussing the changing status and uncertainty Venezuelans face, consider sharing a tangible example of why they sought safety here.

3. All Afghan immigration application processing remains paused.

What happened: The pause on all immigration application processing for Afghans, such as asylum, work permits, green cards, travel documents, as well as Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) remains paused. Additionally, no Afghans are being permitted to travel to the U.S., who are at risk for supporting the U.S., and those pursuing family reunification after many years of separation.

Why it matters: The fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban in 2021 left hundreds of thousands of families at risk who supported U.S. military forces and initiatives there. Many of our allies remain in danger, and the pause in Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) decisions leave them without the opportunity to seek safety in the U.S. Because Afghanistan is on the travel ban list, allies who are safely in the U.S. cannot renew their immigration documents or work authorization and face the possibility of losing their legal status.

How to talk about it: The U.S. made a promise to protect our Afghan wartime allies who were threatened and forced to flee their homes due to their support of the U.S. mission in Afghanistan. When talking about the continued pause on immigration and application processing for our Afghan allies, as well as for the many other Afghans seeking safety, highlight the widespread support that Americans across the country have had for Afghan newcomers since 2021. Millions of Americans have already, and continue to, raise their hands to welcome our Afghan allies in their communities. Read about how U.S. veterans have supported our Afghan allies here.