Policy Updates

Newcomers whose primary status is terminating should consult our guide to navigating alternative legal status, seek legal counsel immediately, and carry appropriate documentation including a signed Form G-28 which can be used to show that they are represented by an attorney. Newcomers also can consult this resource to understand their rights in the event of an ICE encounter.

The new law significantly restricts access to purchasing health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace and reduces federal tax credits lowering monthly health insurance premiums. The law excludes resettled refugees and asylees who do not yet have green cards, TPS holders, asylum applicants, and humanitarian parolees from eligibility for Medicaid, Medicare, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the ACA marketplace. Only green card holders, Cubans and Haitians who entered the U.S. through humanitarian parole, and specific Pacific Island communities remain eligible for healthcare benefits.

As of Jan. 28, 2025, the U.S. government has paused the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) program. No new U4U applications are being accepted, pending cases won’t be processed, and no new travel authorizations are being issued.

In May, due to a court decision, USCIS lifted a pause on the processing of immigration applications, including parole renewals, for Ukrainians already in the United States. Dozens of renewal (aka re-parole) applications have been approved by USCIS for U4U beneficiaries. For more information, see this guidance by the Ukraine Immigration Task Force on how to submit a re-parole application and when to consider expedited processing.

If your U4U beneficiary is still awaiting a renewal for parole or work authorization, we encourage you to contact your congressional representative and submit a constituency request for their staff to do a congressional inquiry to USCIS checking on the status of their case. You can reference our contact your representative guide to learn how to put in this request.

If you are a sponsor, check out our guide to alternative legal options for parolees and get legal advice from an immigration expert.

On June 12, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security announced that it began sending termination notices for humanitarian parole status and work authorization to individuals who arrived in the U.S. through the Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans (CHNV) sponsorship program.

Individuals affected received notification through their myUSCIS account.

If a newcomer you know has been 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.
• Sponsors can consult our guide to alternative legal options for humanitarian parolees to seek professional legal counsel.

It is unclear if or when USRAP programming will reopen and whether private sponsorship will be included in that programming. The Welcome Corps program was terminated by the State Department in late February 2025.

The Welcome Corps program was terminated by the State Department in late February 2025. This means that the Welcome Corps is no longer accepting new applications, and pending applications will not be processed or certified.

It is unclear whether refugee sponsorship will return. As elected officials shape new policies related to refugee admissions, Americans can share their support for private sponsorship by using our guide for contacting your federal representatives.