Policy Updates

As of Jan. 20, 2025, DHS 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 authorizations will be issued.

DHS announced that it will terminate the humanitarian parole status for individuals who arrived in the United States through the CHNV sponsorship program. Termination of parole will take effect on April 24, 2025. If an individual's parole was 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.

Sponsors can consult our guide to alternative legal options for humanitarian parolees to seek professional legal counsel.

As of Jan. 28, 2025, DHS has paused the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) program. The program is not accepting new applications, pending applications will not be processed, and no new travel authorizations are being issued.

The March 25th DHS notice of CHNV termination 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. View our humanitarian parole explainer page for more information and resources.

Sponsors can consult our guide to alternative legal options for humanitarian parolees to seek professional legal counsel.

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.

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.

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.

No. Due to a recent policy change from President Trump’s administration, the Welcome Corps is no longer accepting new applications, and pending applications will not be processed.

Refugee cases that have already been referred into USRAP through a certified Welcome Corps application currently remain in the pipeline, though their processing is on hold and no flights are being scheduled for refugee arrivals.

Refugee travel to the U.S. is suspended until further notice. All scheduled travel has been canceled, and no new travel will be booked during the suspension.

You can:

• Contact your congressional representatives to express support for refugee sponsorship programs or get help with your application.
• Use our guide for contacting your federal representatives for detailed instructions.