Supreme Court Asked to Halt Migrant Protections \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to overturn a lower court’s ruling that blocks its plan to end humanitarian parole protections for over 500,000 immigrants from four countries, potentially opening the door to mass deportations.
Quick Looks
- Trump’s DOJ filed an emergency appeal to end parole for 500,000 immigrants.
- A federal judge had blocked the administration from canceling temporary status.
- Affected migrants include Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans.
- Trump argues DHS must retain authority over mass revocations.
- The Biden-era parole program granted two-year protection and work permits.
- Critics say ending the program violates federal rule-making processes.
- The case marks another Trump-era challenge to Biden immigration policies.
Deep Look
In a sweeping move with major implications for immigration policy and humanitarian protections, the Trump administration has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse a federal court order that temporarily blocks it from ending temporary legal status for over 500,000 migrants from four countries. The administration’s emergency appeal seeks permission to cancel humanitarian parole for immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, exposing many to potential deportation.
The appeal, submitted Thursday, comes after U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston ruled that the administration’s decision to end the humanitarian parole program was legally flawed and could cause serious harm to individuals and families who were legally living and working in the U.S.
The Legal Showdown Over Humanitarian Parole
The parole program, enacted under President Joe Biden, was designed to offer two-year temporary protection and work authorization to migrants fleeing political and economic crises. Since late 2022, more than 500,000 people from the four designated countries arrived legally in the U.S. under the policy. The program was notable for its requirement that applicants have U.S.-based financial sponsors, making it one of the most structured uses of humanitarian parole authority since the law was enacted in 1952.
But the Trump administration, which returned to power in January, views the program as an overreach of executive power. In its filing, Solicitor General John Sauer argued that Judge Talwani’s order “nullified one of the administration’s most consequential immigration policy decisions,” undermining the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) authority to manage immigration at scale.
Sauer insisted that the judge had misinterpreted immigration law, particularly in her conclusion that revoking parole must be done case-by-case rather than en masse. He also emphasized that the ability to quickly remove unauthorized migrants is central to the Trump administration’s immigration priorities.
Judicial Roadblocks and Legal Arguments
Judge Talwani, appointed by President Barack Obama, issued her ruling in mid-April, just days before the Biden-era parole permits were scheduled to expire. Her order blocked the cancellation and argued that ending the program would force law-abiding families to either flee the country or risk detention and deportation. She criticized the government’s reasoning as “based on an incorrect reading of the law.”
The administration’s appeal to the Supreme Court follows an appellate court’s refusal to lift Talwani’s block. It’s the latest in a series of emergency immigration appeals from the Trump White House, which has been aggressively dismantling Biden’s immigration framework and reinstating Trump-era hardline policies.
Among those: a push to revoke parole for 350,000 Venezuelans, and the reactivation of the Alien Enemies Act — a wartime law from the 18th century — to deport suspected gang members to prisons in El Salvador without trial.
Critics: “Unprecedented,” Unfair, and Unjust
Immigration advocates have sharply criticized the latest move, calling it “unprecedented” and a violation of administrative rule-making procedures. They warn that stripping legal status from so many people, many of whom have built lives, jobs, and community ties over the last two years, would trigger humanitarian and economic fallout.
Many of the affected migrants work in key industries, including healthcare, construction, and agriculture. Advocacy groups also warn that deporting people to unstable countries could violate international human rights standards.
Despite these concerns, Trump has remained firm in his campaign promise to deport millions of undocumented immigrants. His administration continues to pursue broad executive authority over immigration enforcement, which it argues is essential to restoring order at the U.S. border and discouraging unlawful entry.
Biden’s Immigration Legacy Under Attack
The humanitarian parole program was a cornerstone of President Biden’s broader immigration reform strategy. It offered a legal, structured pathway for migration from crisis zones while easing pressure on the southern border. The initiative was hailed by Democrats and many immigration experts as a humane alternative to border chaos.
But since Trump’s return, his administration has prioritized the dismantling of Biden’s immigration policies, portraying them as unlawful and enabling abuse of U.S. asylum and work programs.
The case now rests with the Supreme Court, which has increasingly become a key battleground for immigration policy battles. A ruling in favor of Trump’s administration would mark a significant legal and political victory — one that could clear the way for broad removals of previously protected migrants and set the tone for more aggressive enforcement actions.
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