By: Hector A. Chichoni, Esq., Marcela Bermudez, Esq. and Patricia Gannon, Esq.
As expected, on April 17, 2025, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a crucial update that impacts many employers and individuals. On April 14, 2025, the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts issued a Preliminary Injunction Order. This order stays parts of the March 25, 2025, Federal Register notice titled, “Termination of Parole Process for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans (CHNV).” The case, Svitlana Doe, et al., v. Noem, et. al., No. 25-cv-10495 (D. Mass. Apr. 14, 2025), has brought about this change. Judge Talwani’s order states: “Accordingly, the court grants emergency relief as follows: 1. The Termination of Parole Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans, 90 Fed. Reg. 13611 (Mar. 25, 2025), is hereby STAYED pending further court order insofar as it revokes, without case-by-case review, the previously granted parole and work authorization issued to noncitizens paroled into the United States pursuant to parole programs for noncitizens from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (the “CHNV parole programs”) prior to the noncitizen’s originally stated parole end date.”
As a result of the court’s order, the parole termination notices that were sent to individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela are stayed and are not currently in effect. However, USCIS has also stated that “no new requests for CHNV parole will be processed at this time.” This development means that employers are not required to conduct a reverification on April 24, 2025 of C11 Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) issued under the CHNV program. The C11 EADs remain valid according to their expiration dates, providing much-needed clarity and stability for both employers and employees. It is advisable for employers to retain a copy of the notice issued by USCIS, as well as the Federal Register Notice, to ensure compliance and for future reference. Copies can be found here for USCIS and here for the Federal Register.
In case you missed our last blog on this issue, click here to view it. Our previous analysis anticipated this outcome, and we continue to provide timely updates on immigration matters that affect your business operations, including information on the alien registration requirements and travel considerations.
We are committed to keeping you updated on important developments that impact your workforce and compliance obligations. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to our team. We are here to support you in navigating these complex legal landscapes.