New York Attorney General Letitia James, alongside 17 other attorneys general, has co-led a coalition urging the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit to maintain an order preventing the federal government from ending humanitarian parole for over 500,000 immigrants. The “Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela” (CHNV) parole program was established by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in 2022 and 2023. It allows individuals from these countries to legally enter the U.S. for humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.
Attorney General James and her colleagues argue that terminating this program would negatively impact public safety, economic stability, and family unity. In their amicus brief filed in Doe v. Noem, they emphasize the potential damage to communities and risks faced by immigrants if the program is ended.
“Humanitarian parole exists to support vulnerable individuals and families who have come to our country seeking safety and a better life,” stated Attorney General James. “To suddenly strip thousands of parolees of their status would be cruel and unfair.”
The CHNV program permits new immigrants to temporarily remain in the U.S. and work. However, on January 20, an executive order directed DHS to terminate these programs. DHS subsequently issued a rule removing immigration status and work authorization from CHNV recipients effective April 24.
A federal district court blocked this move following a lawsuit supported by Attorney General James and others, citing catastrophic harm and potential unlawfulness of DHS’s actions. The coalition is now urging the First Circuit to uphold this decision.
In New York alone, immigrants represented 27.8 percent of the labor force in 2023 with significant representation in home health aide and housekeeping jobs. Nationwide, 240,000 CHNV recipients are employed in key sectors like manufacturing and health services.
The coalition also highlights severe humanitarian consequences if parole is terminated for those fleeing violence or persecution. They warn it could separate families and expose individuals to dangerous conditions if returned to their home countries.
Joining Attorney General James are attorneys general from California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawai’i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin as well as the District of Columbia.
