500,000 Lives in Limbo ⚖️

This Week’s Immigration News Highlights

• Trump Demands “Aggressive Vetting,“ Pausing Some Green Card Applications

• Rumeysa Ozturk, Tufts Graduate Student and Turkish National, Detained by ICE

• U.S Citizens and Residents Face More Scrutiny, Anxiety During International Travel

What You Need to Know About the End of Humanitarian Parole for CHNV Nationals

On March 25, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a notice in the Federal Register terminating the CHNV parole process, which was previously available to nationals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.

🧾 What Happened?
In U.S. immigration law, federal agencies like DHS can enact rules through notices in the Federal Register, a kind of legal bulletin board for all federal regulations. Once a notice is published, it typically becomes binding on its effective date unless halted by a court or reversed by the agency itself.

That’s precisely what happened here: DHS announced it is winding down the humanitarian parole program that, since 2023, allowed tens of thousands of CHNV nationals to enter the U.S. for temporary humanitarian reasons. These parolees received work authorization and protection from removal… until now.

⚖️ Why It Matters
Parole is, by nature, temporary. But this decision is more than an expiration. This may leave many in legal limbo, stripped of the ability to complete their time in the U.S. under valid parole. Without a clear pathway forward, they could face an abrupt loss of status, work authorization, and protection from deportation.

This isn’t just a policy shift. It’s a disruption to real lives, families, and communities. And unfortunately, it’s not unusual in immigration law. These legal whiplashes are part of the terrain—and why this field requires deep commitment, not casual dabbling.

📌 Key Takeaways

• Over 500,000 parolees may be affected by the DHS decision.

• Individuals should seek legal advice to determine if they qualify for asylum, TPS, or other relief.

• Immigration lawyers, especially new ones, should prepare for rapid changes like this and stay connected to mentors and reliable sources.

📅 What You Can Do
If you or someone you know is affected, now is the time to speak to an attorney. Explore all possible legal options before your status lapses.

A Crash Course on Removal Proceedings 📚

If you're an immigration attorney who hasn’t handled a removal case or avoided court altogether, it's time to change that. With the current state of our immigration system, knowing the basics of removal proceedings isn’t optional. Every practitioner should understand this critical part of immigration law.

What Are Removal Proceedings? Removal proceedings are the legal process through which the U.S. government seeks to deport a noncitizen. These cases are handled by immigration courts under the jurisdiction of the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR).

The Lifecycle of a Case: While each case is unique, most removal proceedings follow a predictable structure. Here are the stages every attorney should be able to identify:

• Notice to Appear (NTA): This document initiates removal proceedings. It includes charges and allegations. Many legal challenges start by questioning the NTA’s legal sufficiency. Review it closely. Accuracy and proper service matter.

• Master Calendar Hearing (MCH): This brief procedural hearing sets the stage. Pleadings are entered, and future dates are scheduled. In many jurisdictions, written pleadings now allow attorneys to waive in-person appearances.

• Individual Hearing: This is the trial-like setting where relief such as asylum or cancellation of removal is argued. Evidence is submitted, testimony is heard, and the outcome can determine whether your client stays or goes. Some clients wait nearly a decade to have their day in court.

Pro Tips for New Practitioners ⭐️

• Always obtain a complete immigration background known as a FOIA request for your client's immigration and criminal history.

• Prepare not just your client but yourself. Practice!

• Find a mentor. Immigration court is nowhere to go alone, especially when the stakes are so high.

Stepping into EOIR court is different from any other legal setting. But with solid preparation, a strong support network, and clarity on procedure, you can be the advocate your client desperately needs.

That’s All!

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Also, if you’d love my expertise as an immigration attorney, feel free to book a call with me.

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Finally, visit our Custom GPT Immigration Law Expert Shelly: an AI chatbot designed by The Notice to All Team. AI Shelly has all the answers to your immigration questions (not a replacement for professional consulting, though. AI isn’t that good)!

Whether you're navigating the fallout of the CHNV parole shutdown or gearing up for your first removal hearing, one thing is clear: immigration law waits for no one. Stay sharp, stay ready, and remember - your preparation could be the difference between someone staying or being sent away. Your clients’ lives - and citizenship status - depend on you.

Until next time, spring is in the air! 🌸