A US federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to terminate a Biden-era program granting legal status to over 500,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.
A US federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to terminate a Biden-era program that granted legal status to over 500,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. The ruling, issued in federal district court in Boston, prevents the wholesale shutdown of the program, which was set to expire on April 24.
Background of the Migrant Program
The program, established under the previous administration, allowed migrants from these four countries to legally enter and work in the US for up to two years if they had a financial sponsor and passed security checks. The Biden administration framed it as a strategic measure to reduce illegal border crossings by creating legitimate pathways to entry.
Court Ruling and Its Implications
In her ruling, Judge Indira Talwani wrote that migrants would be forced to choose between two injurious options: continue following the law and leave the country on their own, or await removal proceedings. This highlights the potential consequences of terminating the program without providing an alternative pathway for these individuals.
Context of Broader Immigration Efforts
The latest legal setback for the Trump team comes amid broader efforts to roll back other immigration protections. These include attempts to revoke Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans and efforts to send thousands of Cameroonian and Afghan migrants, who sided with the Americans, back to the Taliban. The court’s decision provides a temporary reprieve for the migrant program, but the long-term implications of these policies remain uncertain.
