MIAMI — A coalition of American citizens and immigrants has initiated legal action against the Trump administration, challenging the cessation of a critical legal provision previously leveraged by U.S. presidents. This provision permitted individuals from nations embroiled in conflict or political turmoil to enter and temporarily reside in the United States.
The legal filing, submitted late Friday, advocates for the reestablishment of humanitarian parole programs, which historically facilitated the entry of approximately 875,000 migrants from areas such as Ukraine, Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. These migrants were backed by legal U.S. residents as sponsors.
Under President Donald Trump’s tenure, legal channels for immigrant entry into the U.S. have been systematically dismantled, aligning with his electoral promises to expel millions of undocumented residents.
The lawsuit’s plaintiffs include eight immigrants who lawfully entered the United States prior to the Trump administration’s termination of what they labeled as widespread misuse of humanitarian parole. Currently, these individuals retain legal residency until their parole concludes; however, the administration has halted processing their applications for asylum, visas, and other avenues that might extend their stay.
To protect against the threat of deportation, the identities of these plaintiffs remain undisclosed. Among them are Maksym and Maria Doe, a couple from Ukraine; Alejandro Doe, who escaped Nicaragua in the aftermath of his father’s abduction and torture; and Omar Doe, who dedicated over 18 years of service to the U.S. military in Afghanistan.
Kyle Varner, a 40-year-old doctor and a real estate investor from Spokane, Washington, who sponsored 79 Venezuelans, emphasized, “They didn’t do anything illegal. They followed the rules. They have done nothing but work as hard as they can. … This is just such a grave injustice.”
Many of the immigrants sponsored by Varner resided temporarily in his home, receiving support such as plane fare, English language instruction, and assistance in obtaining driver’s licenses and jobs. Before the Trump administration terminated the program in January, Varner had 32 applications pending approval.
Additional plaintiffs entail two other American citizens, Sandra McAnany and Wilhen Pierre Victor, who have sponsored immigrants, as well as the Haitian Bridge Alliance, a legal aid organization based in California.
Esther Sung, an attorney from the Justice Action Center, which collaborated with Human Rights First to file the lawsuit in Massachusetts federal court, stated, “The Trump administration is trying to attack parole from all angles. The main goal, above all, is to defend humanitarian parole. These have been very, very successful processes.”
The U.S. Departments of Justice and Homeland Security have yet to release any comments regarding this matter.
The termination of temporary protections for these immigrant groups has largely gone unnoticed in political discussions, except among a few Republican figures, notably three Cuban-American representatives from Florida. They have advocated against deportations of affected Venezuelans. Notably, Rep. Maria Salazar of Miami supported a legislative bill alongside approximately 200 congressional Democrats this week, aiming to enable these individuals to obtain permanent residency.
Established in 1952, parole authority has seen utilization by both Republican and Democratic presidents, targeting individuals unable to pursue standard immigration pathways due to urgent circumstances or the absence of diplomatic relations between their home country and the U.S.
Parole allowed immigrants entry “for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit,” with permission to work while seeking other legal means to reside permanently in the U.S.
Upon reassumption of office, Trump immediately abolished “categorical parole programs.”
Joe Biden has since utilized parole authority more extensively than any former U.S. president, including for individuals who accessed this provision through the government’s CBP One app. This lawsuit, however, is focused solely on certain parole initiatives.
McAnany, a 57-year-old widow from Wisconsin, renowned for designing and teaching courses on procurement and soft skills, has sponsored 17 people from Venezuela and Nicaragua, with four applications still pending approval.
She has aided their integration into American society, helping them find housing and educational opportunities. Currently, all her sponsored individuals work over 40 hours a week, paying taxes as well as covering healthcare costs.
“I care so much about each of the people that I sponsor,” stated McAnany. “I can’t just walk away and give up.”
Challenge to Trump’s Block on Humanitarian Parole
