A federal judge in Boston signaled on January 9, 2026 that she will issue an emergency order preventing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from canceling humanitarian parole programs that have helped roughly 10,000 people from Cuba, Haiti, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras reunite with family in the United States. The Trump Administration announced on December 12, 2025 that all seven Family Reunification Parole (FRP) processes—modernized or created under President Biden in 2022-2023—would end on January 14, citing national-security and fraud concerns. Immigrants admitted through FRP receive a three-year parole period and work authorization while they wait for immigrant-visa priority dates to become current.
At Friday’s hearing, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani said she was persuaded by immigrant-rights groups that sudden termination would cause “irreparable harm” to parolees and U.S. sponsors who relied on the programs in good faith. She indicated a temporary restraining order will be issued “no later than Monday,” pausing cancellations and associated loss of work authorization while the underlying lawsuit proceeds. The order would also delay DHS plans to revoke advance travel authorizations issued but not yet used.
For families and employers now scrambling to understand travel-document and status options, VisaHQ can provide fast, individualized assistance with advance-parole renewals, U.S. visa applications and contingency planning; see https://www.visahq.com/united-states/ for details on how its team can streamline complex filings during this fluid situation.
![Federal Judge Moves to Halt Termination of Family-Reunification Parole Programs]()
Corporations with Latino workforces welcomed the development. Manufacturers in Florida and meat-processing plants across the Midwest have hired parolees under the programs’ unrestricted employment authorization—a key outlet at a time when H-2B seasonal-worker quotas remain oversubscribed and H-1B specialty-worker fees have soared. Revocation would have forced many employers to replace trained staff on short notice or move operations offshore.
The litigation could reshape how future administrations treat parole authority. Since 1952, presidents have used parole to admit groups for urgent humanitarian reasons or “significant public benefit,” generally with wide deference from courts. Judge Talwani suggested that DHS must still provide a reasoned explanation when it withdraws a benefit en masse—mirroring the Supreme Court’s 2020 ruling striking down an abrupt effort to rescind Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.
Practically, companies should identify employees whose work authorization hinges on the FRP programs and prepare compliance contingencies. Until the court issues a final ruling, I-9 reverification is not required; employers may rely on unexpired Employment Authorization Documents. Mobility managers should also brief affected staff on travel risks, as advance-parole documents could become invalid with little notice if the injunction is lifted.
At Friday’s hearing, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani said she was persuaded by immigrant-rights groups that sudden termination would cause “irreparable harm” to parolees and U.S. sponsors who relied on the programs in good faith. She indicated a temporary restraining order will be issued “no later than Monday,” pausing cancellations and associated loss of work authorization while the underlying lawsuit proceeds. The order would also delay DHS plans to revoke advance travel authorizations issued but not yet used.
For families and employers now scrambling to understand travel-document and status options, VisaHQ can provide fast, individualized assistance with advance-parole renewals, U.S. visa applications and contingency planning; see https://www.visahq.com/united-states/ for details on how its team can streamline complex filings during this fluid situation.
Corporations with Latino workforces welcomed the development. Manufacturers in Florida and meat-processing plants across the Midwest have hired parolees under the programs’ unrestricted employment authorization—a key outlet at a time when H-2B seasonal-worker quotas remain oversubscribed and H-1B specialty-worker fees have soared. Revocation would have forced many employers to replace trained staff on short notice or move operations offshore.
The litigation could reshape how future administrations treat parole authority. Since 1952, presidents have used parole to admit groups for urgent humanitarian reasons or “significant public benefit,” generally with wide deference from courts. Judge Talwani suggested that DHS must still provide a reasoned explanation when it withdraws a benefit en masse—mirroring the Supreme Court’s 2020 ruling striking down an abrupt effort to rescind Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.
Practically, companies should identify employees whose work authorization hinges on the FRP programs and prepare compliance contingencies. Until the court issues a final ruling, I-9 reverification is not required; employers may rely on unexpired Employment Authorization Documents. Mobility managers should also brief affected staff on travel risks, as advance-parole documents could become invalid with little notice if the injunction is lifted.
