Overview

• U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani directed the administration to lift a February pause on immigration benefit applications filed under Biden-era parole programs.
• Roughly 240,000 Ukrainians under Uniting for Ukraine and 530,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans were affected by the suspension, which threatened their ability to work and seek permanent status.
• Talwani found the pause arbitrary and capricious in violation of federal administrative law, emphasizing the public interest in preserving legal status and work authorization.
• The decision also blocks efforts to halt processing of parole extension requests for Afghans and other migrants pursuing asylum, Temporary Protected Status or residency.
• The Justice Department has asked the Supreme Court to stay Talwani’s rulings, arguing that courts are overstepping executive authority on immigration policy.