The administration of Donald Trump is continuing its policy of drastically restricting immigration initiatives established during Joe Biden’s presidency.
The U.S. government has announced the suspension of immigration applications from certain Latin American and Ukrainian nationals who were authorized to enter the country under programs implemented by the Biden administration.
Citing security concerns and fraud risks, Trump’s team aims to dismantle these programs, which affect thousands of individuals awaiting regularization in the United States, according to CBS News.
An Immediate Halt to Pending Applications
According to CBS News, an internal memo dated February 14 and signed by Andrew Davidson, a senior official at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), orders an immediate halt to the processing of all pending applications from migrants under three specific programs.
These programs had allowed hundreds of thousands of foreign nationals to enter the U.S. legally through a mechanism known as “parole,” which grants temporary residency for humanitarian or public interest reasons. However, the current administration is challenging this approach, citing concerns over inadequate vetting and potential fraud risks.
The Affected Programs
The three suspended initiatives are:
- Uniting for Ukraine, which provided refuge to approximately 240,000 Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion.
- The CHNV Program, which facilitated the entry of 530,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans sponsored by U.S. residents.
- Family Reunification Programs, designed for nationals of Colombia, Ecuador, Central America, Haiti, and Cuba awaiting green cards.
Vulnerable Migrants Facing Uncertainty
For many beneficiaries, this suspension poses a serious threat to their future. A significant number had already initiated procedures to obtain a more permanent status, including applications for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), asylum, or green cards. However, any application submitted by migrants who entered under these programs is now frozen, preventing them from securing legal status (CBS News, Montoya-Galvez, 2024).
Lynden Melmed, former chief counsel for USCIS under the Bush administration, highlighted that this decision “blocks these migrants from progressing toward regularization,” making them more vulnerable to deportation if their temporary status is revoked.
Fraud and Security Concerns: Controversial Justifications
The Trump administration justifies this suspension as a necessary measure to investigate suspected fraud. According to the internal memo, several immigration cases contained irregularities, including “multiple sponsors,” shared addresses, or information linked to deceased individuals. In some cases, migrants were allegedly admitted without thorough background checks.
In response to these allegations, USCIS stated that a comprehensive review would be conducted before potentially resuming application processing. However, no timeline has been provided, leaving thousands of affected migrants in limbo.
A Broader Crackdown on Immigration
This move is part of a broader tightening of U.S. immigration policy. In January, the Trump administration had already authorized federal agents to expedite the removal of certain migrants admitted under these programs and is now considering revoking their parole status entirely.
While immigrant rights organizations condemn the decision as devastating for affected families, authorities have yet to clarify whether the suspension will be lifted anytime soon. In the meantime, thousands of families remain in a state of uncertainty, unsure whether they will be able to maintain their legal status in the U.S. or face imminent deportation.