Justice Action Center (JAC) and Human Rights First (HRF) filed the lawsuit Svitlana Doe v. Noem on behalf of individual beneficiaries and sponsors of humanitarian parole processes–including the parole program for Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV), Uniting for Ukraine (U4U), Operation Allies Welcome (OAW), Central American Minors parole (CAM), Family Reunification Parole (FRP), and military parole-in-place)–and on behalf of organizational plaintiff Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA).

Svitlana Doe v. Noem — Humanitarian Parole Class Action

Additional languages: Haga clic aquí para español.

In the lawsuit, we are challenging the following actions taken by the Trump Administration:

Pausing USCIS processing of all applications for parole and re-parole under these parole programs;
Pausing the processing of requests for other immigration benefits submitted by or on behalf of parolees who came into the United States through these parole programs. This includes applications for asylum, TPS, certain visas, adjustment of status, and work authorization; and
Ending the CHNV parole process and ending individual grants of CHNV parole as of April 24, 2025 (within 30 days of the Federal Register Notice published on March 25, 2025)

Class Member Questions

When a court certifies a class, any relief the court provides will apply to all class members, not just the named plaintiffs in the case. There are several certified classes in this case. As of May 28th, our class members include:

CHNV beneficiaries whose parole is terminated by the March 25th FRN or with any other pending immigration benefits applications;

CAM, Family Reunification Parole, MPIP, OAW, and U4U beneficiaries with pending applications for re-parole or any other immigration benefit;

MPIP sponsors with pending applications for a family member’s initial MPIP parole

Unfortunately, this does not apply to 1) beneficiaries (or sponsors of beneficiaries) who voluntarily left and remain outside the U.S., and 2) beneficiaries or sponsors who choose to opt out of the class to sue separately.

If you are a class member and have questions about our litigation, please let us know using the “Submit a Question” button below! If you are not a class member, please reach out to our team here or below.

Ask a Question

Class Member 📧 Updates

Sign up for class member email updates for the latest updates from our legal team. Not sure if you’re a class member? Check out our FAQ!

Haga clic aquí para español. / Klike la pou Kreyòl.

Latest Update

September 12, 2025 – The First Circuit held that the administration’s early termination of CHNV parole, which immediately stripped hundreds of thousands of CHNV parole beneficiaries of their legal parole status and work authorization, was likely lawful. Because of the Supreme Court’s May 30 stay decision, which allowed the termination to take effect, this does not change anything for CHNV parole beneficiaries with regards to their parole status or work authorization.

The litigation over the lawfulness of the CHNV parole termination will still continue at the district court. It also does not affect the district court’s May 28, 2025 order, which requires the government to resume processing the immigration benefits applications of humanitarian parole beneficiaries.

The appeal of the district court’s order will continue with the First Circuit.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Last updated: 6/5/2025

Recent Developments for CHNV Beneficiaries / Recent Developments for CAM, FRP, MPIP, OAW, and U4U Beneficiaries and Sponsors / Class Actions & Membership

Class Actions and Membership in the Class

What is a class action?

A class action is a lawsuit brought by an individual or a small group on behalf of a larger group of individuals in similar situations who all suffered the same injury. When a court allows plaintiffs to proceed as a class, any relief provided by the court will apply to the entire class, regardless of whether a class member participates in the lawsuit.

Am I a class member?

As of May 28th, our class members include: 1) CHNV beneficiaries whose parole is terminated by the March 25th FRN, including any with other pending immigration benefits applications; 2) CAM, Family Reunification Parole, MPIP, OAW, and U4U beneficiaries with pending applications for re-parole or any other immigration benefit; 3) MPIP sponsors with pending applications for a family member’s initial MPIP parole.

Unfortunately, the court’s order does not apply to any 1) beneficiaries who (or sponsors of beneficiaries who) have voluntarily left and remain outside the U.S., and 2) any beneficiary or sponsor who chooses to opt out of the class to sue separately.

Does Svitlana Doe v. Noem include people who did not come through one of the above-discussed parole processes but who were paroled into the United States through the CBP One application?

No, this lawsuit does not address CBP One parole.

I fit the description for class membership, but I was not a named plaintiff in Doe v. Noem or any other lawsuit against the Trump administration. Do I need to join a new lawsuit, or do anything else, to benefit from the Doe v. Noem court’s order?

No, you do not. If you meet one of the class definitions, Judge Talwani’s May 28th order blocking the indefinite suspension of processing of immigration applications filed by certain parole beneficiaries and other applications should apply to members of the class, and is not limited to the named plaintiffs. You do not need to take additional steps to become a class member.

Will I receive any documents or certificates from the court or attorneys confirming my membership?

No, you will not. Your membership in the class is automatic, and we will not send you any confirmation of membership.

What does it mean that JAC and HRF are class counsel?

JAC and HRF are class counsel, meaning they are the attorneys advocating for the rights and interests of the class. The court must approve class counsel and find that the attorneys are competent, experienced in the relevant field of law, and have the necessary resources to handle the case.

Can you help me with my immigration case?

No, unfortunately, we cannot help you with your individual immigration case. If you have questions about filing for immigration benefits or about any pending application, we recommend you consult with an immigration attorney.

How do I sign up to receive class member updates about the status of the Svitlana Doe v. Noem case?

Please sign up for class member updates here, and we will keep you posted about developments. This form is for members of any of the subclasses described above.

How can I contact class counsel if I have further questions not covered here?

Please contact us via our Class Member Inquiry form here.

Recent Developments for CHNV Beneficiaries

Are my CHNV parole and related work authorization still valid? What does the Supreme Court order on May 30, 2025, mean for CHNV beneficiaries?

On May 30, 2025, the Supreme Court granted the government’s emergency request to block Judge Talwani’s April 14th order preventing the mass termination of CHNV parole via the government’s March 25th Federal Register Notice (FRN).

This decision means DHS may now proceed with terminating CHNV parole grants and CHNV-based employment authorizations. CHNV beneficiaries whose parole and work authorization are terminated will receive notices via their email address or myUSCIS account.

The FRN also states that, after revoking a CHNV parolee’s status, the government would target them for deportation if they did not voluntarily leave the country.

What about my pending immigration benefit applications? What does Judge Talwani’s May 28^th, 2025, order mean for CHNV beneficiaries?

On May 28, 2025, Judge Talwani issued two orders affecting CHNV parolees:

First, Judge Talwani created an additional subclass of beneficiaries of certain humanitarian parole processes, including CHNV, and have applied for any additional immigration benefits. This means that if you are a CHNV parolee with any other pending immigration benefit applications, then you are part of this subclass UNLESS you leave the United States or decide to opt out of the class.

Second, Judge Talwani ordered the government to resume the processing of applications for additional immigration benefits for certain humanitarian parole beneficiaries, including CHNV parole. This means that DHS must continue to review and process applications for various benefits, including diversity visas, asylum, temporary protected status, family-based or employment-based immigrant visas, and others.

If you have a pending immigration benefit application, this could be a means to remain in the United States with legal status. The attorneys for this case cannot provide further advice on your individual immigration case or application, so we recommend you consult an immigration attorney if you need further assistance.

What does it mean that the May 28th order regarding the pause is temporary?

The May 28th order provides initial, emergency relief while the litigation proceeds, or until the judge issues another order that changes the May 28th order. While the May 28th order is in place, we will continue to litigate the case and fight for more permanent relief. There is currently no end date to the court’s order, and we will keep you updated if this changes.

Does the May 30th Supreme Court decision impact Judge Talwani’s May 28th decision?

No, the Supreme Court’s order from May 30th does not impact Judge Talwani’s May 28th order, which temporarily blocks the government from indefinitely pausing processing and reviewing immigration benefits requests filed by CHNV parole beneficiaries and other parole beneficiaries from non-CHNV parole programs.

If my CHNV parole is terminated, do I need to leave the United States?

This will vary based on each CHNV beneficiary’s particular circumstances and whether one has already applied for another form of legal status or protection.

If you have a pending immigration benefit application, this could be a means to remain in the United States with legal status. The attorneys for this case cannot provide further advice on your individual immigration case or application, so we recommend you consult an immigration attorney if you need further assistance.

Are immigration benefits requests (i.e., asylum, TPS, visa applications) for CHNV parolees being adjudicated?

As of May 28th, 2025, it is our understanding that these applications are no longer paused, and the government is required to process and review applications for diversity visas, asylum, temporary protected status, family-based or employment-based immigrant visas, and other additional immigration benefits.

If you have reason to believe that DHS is not processing your application for additional immigration benefits, please contact our legal team using our Class Member Inquiry form.

If my CHNV parole is terminated, can I still apply for asylum or other more lasting immigration status?

Yes! Neither DHS nor any court has acted in a way that prevent you from filing an application and receiving a receipt. If you are eligible for another immigration status and want to apply, you should do that now. If the type of application you are filing can be submitted online with USCIS, it is a good idea to file that way, so you receive an immediate receipt notice. The attorneys for this case cannot provide further advice on your individual immigration case or application, so we recommend you consult a trusted immigration attorney if you need further assistance.

If you have reason to believe that DHS is not processing your application for additional immigration benefits, please contact our legal team using our Class Member Inquiry form.

Are new applications for CHNV parole sponsorship being processed?

No, they are not. The March 25th Federal Register Notice that went into effect on May 30^th, 2025 terminated the CHNV parole program. The Trump administration is not processing new applications.

Recent Developments for CAM, FRP, MPIP, OAW, and U4U Beneficiaries and Sponsors

I am a parole beneficiary or sponsor of one of the other parole processes covered by the lawsuit Svitlana Doe v. Noem: Uniting for Ukraine (U4U), Operation Allies Welcome (OAW), Central American Minors parole (CAM), Family Reunification Parole (FRP), military parole-in-place. Has the Court taken any action to address the non-CHNV parole processes?

Yes, as of May 28, 2025, Judge Talwani created additional subclasses of people who have received humanitarian parole through certain processes and have applied for any additional immigration benefits. As of May 28th, our class members include: 1) CHNV beneficiaries whose parole is terminated by the March 25th FRN, including any with pending applications for any other immigration benefits; 2) CAM, Family Reunification Parole, MPIP, OAW, and U4U beneficiaries with pending applications for re-parole or any other immigration benefit; 3) MPIP sponsors with pending applications for a family member’s initial MPIP parole.

Unfortunately, the court’s order does not apply to any 1) beneficiaries who (or sponsors of beneficiaries who) have voluntarily left and remain outside the U.S., and 2) any beneficiary or sponsor who chooses to opt out of the class to sue separately.

Judge Talwani also ordered the government to resume processing and reviewing of applications for additional immigration benefits, including applications for re-parole for those programs that allow for it.

This means that if you have filed an application for re-parole through U4U, OAW, FRP, or CAM; an application for parole or re-parole through MPIP; or an application for any other immigration benefit (including diversity visas, asylum, temporary protected status, family-based or employment-based immigrant visa, and others), the processing and adjudication of these applications should resume.

Are new applications for non-CHNV parole sponsorship and/or re-parole being processed? Are pending immigration benefits requests (i.e., asylum, TPS, visa applications) for non-CHNV parolees being adjudicated?

As of May 28, 2025, it is our understanding that these applications are no longer paused. On May 28^th, Judge Talwani ordered the government to resume processing and reviewing of applications for additional immigration benefits, including applications for re-parole for those programs that allow for it.

This means that if you have filed an application for re-parole through U4U, OAW, FRP, or CAM; an application for parole or re-parole through MPIP; or an application for any other immigration benefit (including diversity visas, asylum, temporary protected status, family-based or employment-based immigrant visa, and others), the processing and adjudication of these applications should resume.

If you have reason to believe that DHS is not processing such applications, please contact our legal team using our Class Member Inquiry form.

Can I submit new applications for other immigration status or benefits?

Yes—while we are fighting for more permanent relief regarding DHS’s decision to pause adjudication of these applications, people should still be able to file their applications with USCIS. If the type of application or petition you are filing is one that can be filed with USCIS online, filing online will give you an immediate electronic receipt. The attorneys for this case cannot provide further advice on your individual immigration case or application, so we recommend you consult an immigration attorney if you need further assistance.

Q: Even if I received a receipt notice from USCIS after I filed my application, how will I know if DHS is reviewing my parole or re-parole application (for non-CHNV parole programs that allow for re-parole) as the Court ordered?

If you filed your case online, you will usually see when USCIS takes action on the case in your online portal. Sometimes this is also reflected in USCIS’s online case status website, where you can check the status of applications and petitions filed by mail. Please be aware that the processing of an application or petition by USCIS typically includes a period of waiting, during which nothing is happening to your application while USCIS is working on applications filed before yours, before your application reaches an officer’s desk. However, once your application or petition reaches an officer’s desk for review, you usually receive a decision or other correspondence fairly quickly.

Past Class Member Updates

5/9/2025 — Class Member Update / Actualización de la demanda colectiva / Mizajou Sou Aksyon Kolektif
4/22/2025 — Class Member Update [English]
4/14/2025 — Class Member Update [English]