Lawyers explain that the regular reunification process “is not eliminated” and that families “will be able to continue claiming people.”
MIAMI, United States. – The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced this Friday the elimination of family reunification programs (Family Reunification Parole, FRP) for nationals of Cuba, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti and Honduras, a decision that will impact tens of thousands of families, but that does not end the family petition system or cancel reunification requests through forms I-130as specified by the agency itself and immigration experts.
According to the official statement from the DHS, the measure – which will be formalized next Monday through a notice in the Federal Register— is limited exclusively to programs parole that allowed early entry into the United States for family members of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents while awaiting the availability of an immigrant visa.
“He parole It was never intended to be used this way. We are returning to a case-by-case system, as Congress mandated. “It is a return to common sense and the America First policy,” the agency said when justifying the decision, which seeks, according to the Government, “to end the abuse of parole humanitarian” and prevent the entry of foreigners with “insufficient verification.”
In an interview broadcast this Friday by journalist Mario J. Pentónimmigration attorney Mayron Gallardo stressed that the announcement does not eliminate family petitions nor does it prevent citizens and residents from continuing to claim their relatives through traditional channels.
“That has absolutely nothing to do with the family requests. They are only referring to the family reunification program for parole“he explained. Gallardo stressed that the forms I-130 —the basis of the regular reunification process— “are not eliminated” and that families “will be able to continue claiming people,” although they must do so under the ordinary times of the immigration system, which can last for years.
The now-canceled program allowed people with an already approved family petition to enter the United States with a parole and they will wait inside the country for the availability of their visa. In the Cuban case, furthermore, this mechanism made it easier for the beneficiaries to subsequently benefit from the Cuban Adjustment Law after a year and a day of presence in United States territory. “That is what they are eliminating,” said Gallardo, who added that, from now on, applicants will have to “stand in the same line that the entire world does and wait much longer.”
The DHS notice establishes key dates for those already in the United States under these programs. On January 14, 2026, the parole of all people admitted through the FRP, except for those who have submitted a Form I-485 (Application for registration of permanent residence or adjustment of status) before December 15 and whose processing is still pending on the cut-off date.
“If he I-485 is duly presented, the parole “It will remain in force until a final decision is made on the case, or the parole period expires, whichever occurs first,” the official document states.
As Gallardo explained in the interview, those who have a pending adjustment of status will keep their parole until one of those two scenarios occurs. However, if the request I-485 is denied and the parole is still active, “automatically” the latter “will end and the person will have to leave the United States.” The termination of parole It also entails the automatic revocation of the work permit associated with that status.
The DHS warned that beneficiaries who do not have another legal basis to remain in the country must leave the United States before January 14, 2026. The agency also indicated that it will urge these people to report their departure through the CBP Home application, a process that, according to the statement, could allow access to financial assistance for return, support in obtaining travel documents and forgiveness of certain civil fines.
During the interview, Gallardo highlighted that the situation varies depending on nationality and the type of family relationship. In the case of Cubans, he recalled that the Cuban Adjustment Law “forgives illegal presence in the country,” which offers an additional way to regularize status once the temporary requirements have been met. For other nationalities, however, the expiration of the parole It may imply the beginning of the accumulation of illegal presence if they are not immediate family members – such as spouses, parents or minor children of US citizens – which could complicate future immigration procedures.
“The rest of the requests do not forgive illegal presence,” the lawyer warned. In these cases, it recommended evaluating voluntary departure from the country and continuing the process from abroad to avoid more severe immigration consequences.
Although the elimination of the FRP does not equate to the end of family reunification, the closure of these programs represents a significant blow for thousands of families who had opted for this route as an alternative to irregular routes. For Cubans, the impact is especially sensitive: Cuban Family Reunification Parole (CFRP), operational since 2007, had for years been one of the main legal entry gates to the country.
