Another Federal Court Blocks Trump’s Immigration Agenda in Nationwide Ruling—Without Calling It That

A federal court in Massachusetts delivered a significant setback to the Trump administration’s immigration plans by blocking the mass revocation of legal immigration status for thousands of migrants admitted into the U.S. under the CHNV program initiated during the Biden administration. The court’s ruling, though not labeled as a “nationwide injunction,” effectively functions as one.

Established in 2022 and 2023, the CHNV programs permitted screened individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to temporarily enter the U.S. under humanitarian parole. Following the identification of “significant” fraud in the program, the Biden administration paused it at the start of August 2024 before resuming it later that month.

Shortly after Donald Trump took office on January 20, on March 25, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a notice ending these programs and annulling active parole grants without conducting individual reviews or providing a way for current recipients to challenge their removal.

The court ruled that DHS had overstepped its authority, violating federal law by treating tens of thousands of valid parolees as if their status could be terminated abruptly. The judge concluded that DHS had likely acted unlawfully by issuing broad revocations of lawful parole without individual assessments, as mandated by law.

Furthermore, the court pointed out that DHS neglected to consider the reliance of parolees on their status, with many individuals having made life decisions based on the expectation that their parole would remain valid for the full term. As a result:

– DHS was barred from implementing the March 25 termination policy.
– Attempts to revoke work permits linked to CHNV parole were prohibited.
– The government was restrained from carrying out removals solely based on that policy.

The court’s decision contradicts a central aspect of the Trump administration’s immigration strategy of discontinuing discretionary parole programs and increasing expedited removals. The CHNV programs have faced criticism from immigration hardliners who argue that they allow unlawful mass entry without congressional approval.

By blocking the termination of CHNV parole, the court is upholding a crucial Biden-era policy for the time being and indicating that broad executive powers in immigration have legal boundaries, even concerning individuals the government deems ineligible to stay.

The ruling prevents the administration from executing swift mass deportations, emphasizing the importance of due legal process and individualized consideration rather than blanket policies. Although the court refrained from issuing a “nationwide injunction,” it effectively applied the ruling to a national class, encompassing all individuals currently under CHNV parole in the U.S.

While Biden’s CHNV programs may still face elimination in the long term, the Trump administration’s intent to dismantle most of the Biden-era immigration policies remains clear. However, for now, current parolees are shielded from mass deportation, with their work permits and immigration paths preserved.

The government may choose to appeal the ruling, prolonging the legal battle over executive authority in immigration matters. The message from the court is evident: even discretionary powers must adhere to due process, and politically contentious programs cannot be terminated unilaterally, at least not at present.

Additionally, a recent audit revealed significant fraud in the CHNV program, including the use of fake Social Security Numbers, identical addresses on multiple applications, and duplicated responses on forms. This information led to the Biden administration pausing the program in 2024 to address the fraudulent activities detected.