Judge Blocks Trump Administration from Ending Family Reunification Parole

A federal judge has temporarily halted the Trump administration’s plan to revoke “family reunification parole” status for more than 10,000 immigrants next week.

U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani, based in Boston, issued a temporary restraining order on Saturday, citing that immigration authorities failed to properly notify affected individuals. Talwani ruled that publishing the decision in the Federal Register did not satisfy legal notification requirements, and some immigrants never received notice of the revocation.

The family reunification parole program, which allows certain immigrants to live and work in the U.S., has been targeted as part of the administration’s broader crackdown on immigration. Advocates said the suspension prevents families from being forcibly separated while some were only weeks or months away from obtaining green cards.

Karen Tumlin, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, described the ruling as “a huge sigh of relief,” noting that it temporarily protects immigrants who have complied with all U.S. requirements. Talwani previously blocked similar efforts last year targeting hundreds of thousands of immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.

The Trump administration had indicated it would provide online notice to affected immigrants, but the judge questioned whether all parolees had access to such accounts and confirmed timely notification. The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately comment.