The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has announced the termination of all categorical Family Reunification Parole (FRP) programs for nationals of Cuba, Haiti, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, ending a pathway that allowed eligible family members to enter the United States through humanitarian parole.
The decision, announced December 12, 2025, also applies to the immediate family members of individuals covered under the programs.
DHS said the move is intended to end what it described as the misuse of humanitarian parole, which the department said had allowed inadequately vetted individuals to bypass traditional immigration processes. The agency said parole is being returned to a case-by-case basis, consistent with congressional intent.
According to DHS, the FRP programs contained security gaps stemming from insufficient vetting, which created opportunities for fraud and exploitation and posed risks to national security and public safety. The department said the desire to reunite families does not override the government’s responsibility to protect the safety and economic well-being of Americans.
A notice published in the Federal Register outlines how the terminations will be carried out. Individuals who were paroled into the United States under the FRP programs and whose parole has not expired by January 14, 2026, will see their parole end on that date unless they have a pending Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, that was postmarked or electronically filed on or before December 15, 2025, and remains pending as of January 14.
For those with a qualifying pending Form I-485, parole will remain valid until either a final decision is made on the application or the original parole period expires, whichever occurs first. If the application is denied, parole will be terminated and the individual is expected to depart the United States immediately.
DHS also said that when parole is terminated under the FRP programs, employment authorization tied to that parole will be revoked. Affected individuals will be notified directly by the department.
Those who no longer have a lawful basis to remain in the United States after their parole ends must depart before their termination date. DHS said such individuals should use the CBP Home app to report their intent to leave. The department noted that incentives, including exit bonuses, assistance with travel documents and forgiveness of certain civil fines, may be available to qualifying individuals.
The termination of the FRP programs marks a significant policy shift affecting Cuban and Haitian families, among others, who had relied on the parole process as a means of family reunification.
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