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A federal judge in Massachusetts on Tuesday blocked a Trump administration policy that revoked temporary legal status for hundreds of thousands of migrants who entered the United States through a Biden-era mobile app, ruling the move likely violated federal law.
U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs ordered the government to reinstate parole protections granted to migrants who used the CBP One app, which allowed lawful entry at ports of entry and temporary residence in the country.
Mass parole termination halted
The ruling affects a policy that terminated parole for migrants who had been granted temporary status after scheduling appointments through the app, which was introduced during the administration of Joe Biden.
More than 900,000 migrants entered the U.S. through the system beginning in January 2023. Many were granted two-year parole, allowing them to live and work legally in the country.
The Trump administration moved in 2025 to cancel those protections, sending notices instructing recipients to leave the U.S. “immediately” or face removal.
Court finds likely legal violations
Burroughs said the sweeping termination of parole status exceeded the authority of the Department of Homeland Securityand failed to follow required procedures.
“The parole terminations exceeded the agency’s statutory authority and contradicted the procedures set forth in its own regulations,” she wrote.
The case stems from a class-action lawsuit arguing that ending parole en masse — without individualized review or explanation — was unlawful.
Administration defends policy
The Department of Homeland Security criticized the ruling and signaled it may challenge the decision.
A spokesperson called the order “blatant judicial activism,” arguing the agency has clear authority under federal law to revoke parole status.
“Canceling these paroles is a promise kept to the American people to secure our borders and protect our national security,” the agency said.
Advocates and migrants respond
Immigration advocates hailed the decision as a major legal victory.
Skye Perryman, president of Democracy Forward, said the ruling restores protections for migrants who followed legal entry procedures.
“Our clients followed the law: they waited, registered, were inspected, and were granted parole under the law,” Perryman said. “The administration’s effort to tear that status away overnight was unlawful.”
The lawsuit was brought by advocacy groups including the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute and represents migrants from Venezuela, Cuba and Haiti, as well as the Venezuelan Association of Massachusetts.
Carlina Velásquez, the group’s president, said the decision brings relief after months of uncertainty for affected families.
Background on CBP One and policy shift
The CBP One app was launched to manage migration at the southern border by allowing migrants to schedule appointments and enter legally at ports of entry.
After returning to office, Donald Trump shut down the app and canceled pending appointments.
The administration later introduced the CBP Home app, designed to encourage voluntary departures by offering government-funded travel to migrants returning to their home countries.
What comes next
It remains unclear how many migrants have already been deported following the termination notices.
The ruling is likely to be appealed, setting up another legal battle over the scope of executive authority in immigration policy and the limits of mass parole revocations.
The outcome could have significant implications for hundreds of thousands of migrants and the federal government’s ability to reverse prior humanitarian programs.
