Federal Judge Reinstates Migrant Legal Status

A federal judge in Boston ruled on Tuesday to reinstate the legal status of migrants who entered the U.S. under a program initiated by the Biden administration. U.S. District Court Judge Allison Burroughs voided the Trump administration’s decision to terminate the immigration parole status of these individuals.

Procedural Violations Cited in Ruling

Judge Burroughs found that the Trump administration’s move violated established procedures outlined in U.S. law. The case centered on the CBP One program, which allowed asylum-seekers to enter the U.S. at the southern border. The program utilized a mobile application, now repurposed and renamed as CBP Home, by the current administration.

CBP One Program Details

Program Scope and Impact

More than 900,000 migrants from various countries were permitted entry into the U.S. through official ports of entry along the southern border using the CBP One system. The Biden administration had argued that the program effectively reduced illegal immigration by providing a legal pathway for entry.

Contesting Arguments and DHS Response

Trump administration officials maintained that the Biden administration lacked the authority to create the CBP One program and that it circumvented traditional U.S. immigration laws. In April 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the termination of parole status for those processed under the program, urging them to self-deport.

DHS stated it possessed the authority to revoke the parole status. A DHS statement read, “We disagree with this blatant judicial activism undermining the President’s Article II authority to determine who remains in this country.” The department also criticized the CBP One program, claiming it “fueled the worst border crisis in U.S. history.”

Legal Challenge and Reaction

Democracy Forward, a group that challenged the parole terminations in court, welcomed the ruling. Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward, stated, “Today’s ruling is a clear rejection of an administration that has tried to erase lawful status for hundreds of thousands of people with the click of a button.”

Perryman emphasized that the migrants “followed the law: they waited, registered, were inspected, and were granted parole under the law.” The Justice Department is expected to appeal the judge’s decision. It remains unclear how many migrants will directly benefit from the ruling, as some may have already been deported or obtained alternative legal status.