A federal judge in Boston has issued a preliminary injunction preventing the Trump administration from revoking the legal status of more than 8,400 migrants who entered the United States under family reunification parole programs, delivering a significant legal setback to the administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement agenda.
The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani, halts the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) effort to terminate parole protections for thousands of family members of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents from seven Latin American countries. The decision ensures that affected migrants may continue living and working legally in the United States while litigation over the program’s termination proceeds.
Family Reunification Program at Center of Dispute
The migrants were admitted under family reunification parole initiatives that allow relatives of U.S. citizens and green card holders to enter the country legally while they await permanent immigration processing. The programs were expanded during the Biden administration as part of broader efforts to reduce irregular border crossings and provide lawful pathways for migration.
The affected individuals come from Cuba, Haiti, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. Many entered the United States after securing sponsorship from family members and undergoing background checks and vetting by U.S. authorities.
Under the Trump administration, DHS moved to terminate these parole protections, arguing that the programs were inconsistent with current enforcement priorities and vulnerable to abuse or fraud. The agency announced that the legal status of participants would end in mid-January 2026, potentially placing thousands of families at risk of removal proceedings.
Court Finds Lack of Justification
In her order, Judge Talwani found that DHS failed to provide sufficient evidence to support its claims of fraud or to adequately justify the abrupt termination of the program. The judge also raised concerns about whether the government properly considered the serious consequences for migrants who relied on the
program to legally relocate to the United States.
Court filings indicated that many participants sold homes, quit jobs, and made long-term plans based on assurances that they could remain in the U.S. while pursuing permanent residency through family-based immigration channels.
Talwani previously issued a temporary restraining order earlier this month, giving the government time to present additional justification. After reviewing the administration’s arguments, the judge concluded that DHS had not demonstrated a sufficient legal or factual basis to end the parole status at this stage of the case.
Legal Challenge Brought by Immigrant Advocates
The lawsuit was filed by immigrant rights groups on behalf of affected families, arguing that DHS acted unlawfully by reversing prior commitments without proper explanation and by failing to account for the reliance interests of migrants who entered legally under the program.
Plaintiffs contend that terminating parole protections would cause immediate and irreparable harm, including loss of employment authorization, exposure to deportation proceedings, and family separation.
Judge Talwani agreed that plaintiffs raised serious legal questions about whether DHS followed required administrative procedures and whether it acted arbitrarily and capriciously under federal law.
Broader Immigration Enforcement Context
The ruling comes amid a broader push by the Trump administration to scale back a range of temporary parole and humanitarian protection programs created or expanded under prior administrations. DHS, under Secretary Kristi Noem, has sought to narrow the use of parole authority and
prioritize stricter enforcement measures.
The administration has also taken steps to end or limit protections affecting hundreds of thousands of migrants from multiple countries, triggering numerous legal challenges across federal courts.
In related cases, courts and higher appellate panels have issued mixed rulings, sometimes allowing the administration to proceed with rollbacks while, in other instances, temporarily blocking policy changes pending further review.
Impact on Families and Employers
For the more than 8,400 migrants covered by the injunction, the decision provides temporary relief and stability. Many are currently employed in sectors facing labor shortages, including healthcare, construction, hospitality, and service industries.
Legal advocates say the ruling protects not only migrants but also U.S. employers and families who depend on their continued ability to work and remain in the country legally.
“This decision recognizes that people who followed the rules and entered through lawful channels should not be punished by sudden policy reversals,” one attorney involved in the case said.
DHS Response and Next Steps
The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately comment on the ruling. The agency may seek to appeal or modify the injunction as the case moves forward.
For now, the preliminary injunction preserves the legal status of affected migrants while the court considers the merits of the broader challenge. The outcome could have implications for how far the administration can go in undoing parole-based immigration programs and for the future of family reunification pathways.
Legal Significance
Immigration law experts say the decision underscores the judiciary’s role in scrutinizing
rapid policy shifts that impact legally admitted migrants. The case highlights ongoing tensions between executive authority over immigration enforcement and administrative law
requirements to provide reasoned explanations and protect reliance interests.
As litigation continues, the ruling is expected to be closely watched by immigration attorneys, advocacy organizations, and policymakers, particularly as the Trump administration pursues an expanded enforcement agenda.
For thousands of families, however, the court’s order provides at least temporary assurance that they can remain in the United States while the legal battle plays out.
Find your next immigration law, litigation, or government compliance opportunity today.
Search thousands of verified legal jobs on LawCrossing and take the next step in your legal career.
