Supreme Court clears way to end CHNV migrant protections

The U.S. Supreme Court has granted a major legal win to the Trump administration, allowing it to move forward with rolling back protections for over half a million migrants who entered the country through a Biden-era immigration program.

The high court’s decision lifts a lower court injunction, clearing the way for immigration officials to revoke legal status for migrants admitted under the CHNV program, though the legal dispute continues, as Townhall.com reports.

The CHNV program — referring to arrivals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela — was launched under former President Joe Biden to provide humanitarian parole for eligible migrants from those four countries.

It permitted up to 30,000 individuals per month to enter the United States for up to two years, provided they completed security checks, had an American sponsor and met other qualifications.

The purpose of the program was to reduce illegal crossings at the border by creating a more controlled and secure legal pathway into the country.

Trump effort blocked before SCOTUS intervenes

In April 2025, President Donald Trump announced that his administration would revoke the legal status of those participating in the CHNV program, citing national interest concerns.

Migrants who had entered through the program were notified that they must leave the country voluntarily by April 24 or face enforcement actions including possible arrest and removal.

On the same day as that deadline, U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani stepped in and temporarily blocked the administration from implementing the policy.

Lower court judge weighs in

Judge Talwani ruled that the government could not terminate the status of those migrants collectively, emphasizing that immigration parole decisions require an individualized review.

“The early termination, without any case-by-case justification, of legal status for noncitizens who have complied with DHS programs and entered the country lawfully undermines the rule of law,” Talwani wrote in her injunction order.

She also suspended other DHS enforcement actions, including the warnings issued to migrants regarding potential deportations if they failed to depart voluntarily.

White House responds to Talwani

The Trump administration quickly appealed Judge Talwani’s decision, asking the U.S. Supreme Court to permit the revocation plan to go forward while the lawsuit continues.

The White House criticized Talwani’s move, stating in filings that her injunction nullified “one of the Administration’s most consequential immigration policy decisions.”

It also argued that maintaining the legal presence of CHNV migrants was “contrary to U.S. interests.”

Justices lift injunction in 8-1 vote

The Supreme Court granted the administration’s request, lifting the lower court’s injunction and restoring the ability of federal authorities to pursue the revocations.

The ruling was not unanimous; Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, becoming the only justice to publicly oppose the decision.

Although the decision allows the Trump administration to move forward immediately, the underlying legal challenges to the policy are still being considered in the courts.

Next steps awaited

With the injunction lifted, authorities can begin implementation of the administration’s directive to end humanitarian parole for CHNV program participants.

Migrants affected by the ruling could now face removal proceedings unless they pursue other legal avenues for staying in the country legally.

The resolution of the ongoing legal case in lower courts may eventually determine whether the administration’s policy stands on permanent grounds or is again reversed.

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