Federal Judge in Boston Restores Parole for 900,000 CBP One Migrants

What Happened

On April 1, 2026, U.S. District Court Judge Allison Burroughs in Boston issued a landmark ruling that the Department of Homeland Security acted unlawfully when it terminated the immigration parole of nearly 900,000 migrants who had entered the United States through the CBP One mobile app program. The ruling immediately restores parole status and work authorization for affected individuals.

Judge Burroughs found that "when Defendants terminated the impacted noncitizens' parole without observing the process mandated by statute and by their own regulations, they took action that was 'not in accordance with law.'" The decision vacated all of the parole terminations and ordered federal officials to restore parole for everyone in the affected class.

Background: What Was the CBP One Program?

The CBP One mobile app was launched in 2023 as a way for migrants waiting in Mexico to schedule an appointment at a U.S. port of entry along the southern border. After being vetted and screened, approved applicants were granted parole to enter the country while their asylum claims were processed in immigration court.

Between May 16, 2023 and January 19, 2025, approximately 900,000 people used this system to enter the U.S. lawfully. These individuals came from a range of countries, with significant numbers from Venezuela, Cuba, Haiti, and Nicaragua.

The Trump administration shut down the CBP One program in January 2025 upon taking office. Then, in April 2025, DHS sent mass emails to affected migrants notifying them that their parole had been revoked. The emails told them "it is time for you to leave the United States." This mass termination stripped parole holders of their legal status and their ability to work, leaving hundreds of thousands of people in immediate legal limbo.

What the Judge Found

Judge Burroughs determined that the mass termination of parole violated federal law on several grounds. Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, DHS is required to follow specific procedures before revoking an individual's parole. Those procedures include providing individualized notice and an opportunity to respond. Instead, DHS sent a blanket email to all 900,000 people simultaneously, with no individualized review of their circumstances.

The ruling also found that DHS failed to follow its own regulations. Federal agencies are bound by the rules they create, and when DHS bypassed its established process for terminating parole, the court found the action was arbitrary and contrary to law.

What This Means for Affected Immigrants

The ruling has several immediate and practical implications for people who entered through CBP One:

• Parole status is restored: The court vacated the termination notices, meaning affected individuals are once again considered lawful parolees in the United States
• Work authorization is restored: With valid parole status, affected individuals should be eligible to renew or obtain employment authorization documents (EADs)
• Deportation proceedings may be paused: Individuals who were placed in removal proceedings solely because their parole was terminated may have grounds to challenge those proceedings
• Pending asylum cases continue: The original purpose of CBP One parole was to allow people to pursue their asylum claims. With parole restored, those claims can move forward

Why This Matters in Massachusetts

This ruling was issued by a federal judge sitting in Boston, and its impact reaches deeply into communities across Massachusetts. The state has large populations of immigrants from Haiti, Venezuela, and other countries whose nationals used the CBP One program in significant numbers.

Massachusetts is also experiencing heightened immigration enforcement. According to WBUR, ICE has made more than 7,000 arrests in the state since the start of the current administration, nearly five times the rate during the final stretch of the prior administration. Arrests have swept through courthouses, federal buildings, and the streets of cities and towns across the Commonwealth. The largest numbers of those arrested have been from Brazil and Guatemala.

For the thousands of CBP One parolees living in Massachusetts, this ruling provides critical breathing room. Many of these individuals had been working, paying taxes, sending their children to school, and building lives here. When DHS revoked their parole, they were left with no legal status and no clear path forward. This ruling changes that, at least for now.

What You Should Do If You Are Affected

If you entered the United States through the CBP One app between May 2023 and January 2025, here are the steps you should take:

• Preserve all documentation: Keep copies of your CBP One appointment confirmation, your parole documents, the termination email you received from DHS, and any other immigration paperwork
• Consult an immigration attorney: An attorney can review your specific situation, advise you on your parole status, and help you take any necessary steps to renew your work authorization or respond to pending proceedings
• Do not assume automatic reinstatement: While the court order vacates the terminations, the practical implementation may take time. You may need to take affirmative steps to update your status with USCIS or your employer
• Monitor the appeal: The government is expected to challenge this ruling. Stay in contact with your attorney so you can respond quickly if the legal landscape shifts
• Continue pursuing your asylum claim: If you have a pending asylum case, make sure you attend all scheduled hearings and meet all filing deadlines. Your parole restoration supports your ability to remain in the U.S. while your case is heard

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