Legislative Bulletin

 

 

Good afternoon,

Welcome to the National Immigration Forum's weekly bulletin. Every Friday, our policy team rounds up key developments around immigration policy in Washington, D.C., and across the country. The bulletin includes items on the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, as well as some coverage at the state and local levels.

You can find the online version of the bulletin here: [link removed] [link removed].

With hope,

Nicci

***

**LEGISLATIVE BULLETIN — Friday, May 30, 2025**

**DEVELOPMENTS IN IMMIGRATION POLICY THIS WEEK**

Here, we summarize some of the most important recent developments in immigration policy on the federal, legal, state, and local levels.  

**Legal**

******Supreme Court Allows Termination of CHNV Parole Program Affecting Half Million Immigrants**** **

The Supreme Court ruled [link removed] on May 30 that the Trump administration can proceed with terminating humanitarian parole [link removed] for approximately 532,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans while legal challenges continue in lower courts. The unsigned order lifts a federal district court injunction that had blocked Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's March decision to revoke en masse the legal status of participants in the CHNV parole program [link removed], which had provided two-year temporary protection and work authorization. Only Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, with Jackson writing in an eight-page opinion [link removed] that the majority's decision would "facilitate needless human suffering" and unleash "devastation" on affected immigrants before courts reach final judgments on the legal arguments. 

The decision, which marks the largest single revocation of legal immigration status in modern U.S. history, follows a similar May 19 Supreme Court ruling that allowed [link removed] termination of Temporary Protected Status for 350,000 Venezuelans. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani had previously blocked [link removed] the mass termination, ruling that federal law requires parole decisions to be made on a case-by-case basis rather than categorically. The affected immigrants, who entered legally under Biden-era programs requiring U.S. sponsors and background checks, will now lose their work permits and face potential deportation, though many are expected to apply for asylum or other protections. The ruling could signal [link removed] broader implications for similar parole programs covering Ukrainians, Afghans, and other populations, as President Trump’s January 20 executive order [link removed] directed termination of all "categorical parole programs." 

******Justice Department Seeks Supreme Court Review of Third-Country Deportation Restrictions**** **

The Trump administration asked [link removed] the Supreme Court on May 27 to lift a federal judge's order blocking rapid deportations of migrants to countries where they have no previous ties, marking the latest emergency appeal in an escalating legal battle over immigration enforcement. Solicitor General John Sauer challenged U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy's ruling that found the administration violated migrants' rights by providing insufficient notice and little opportunity to raise concerns about potential torture or persecution in destination countries. Sauer argued [link removed] that Murphy's requirements, including giving migrants at least ten days to raise torture claims and another fifteen days to contest adverse findings, create "a diplomatic and logistical morass" that disrupts "sensitive diplomatic, foreign-policy, and national-security efforts."  

However, the case arrives at a Supreme Court that has shown growing wariness of President Trump's aggressive deportation tactics, with both conservative and liberal justices expressing concerns [link removed] about due process violations and the administration's willingness to defy judicial orders. The case stems from the administration's attempt to deport seven men [link removed], all convicted of serious crimes, to war-torn South Sudan [link removed] with only hours' notice, prompting Murphy to halt the deportations and order [link removed] the government to maintain custody of them abroad or return them to the United States. The seven deportees, from countries including [link removed] Cuba, Mexico, Vietnam, and Laos, are currently being held at a U.S. military base in Djibouti after their flight was diverted from South Sudan.  

******ICE Expands Courthouse Arrest Operations Following Case Dismissals**** **

Beginning May 20, ICE attorneys systematically asked [link removed] immigration judges to close cases for people who had been in the U.S. for less than two years and appeared without legal representation, then immediately arrested those individuals outside courtrooms to place them in expedited removal proceedings that bypass judicial review. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had launched coordinated nationwide operations in mid-May targeting [link removed] migrants at immigration courts, marking a significant departure from traditional courthouse protections. Agents have conducted arrests regardless of whether cases were dismissed or individuals received future hearing dates, creating what some immigration attorneys described as a "bait and switch [link removed]" operation. 

The enforcement strategy has created chaos [link removed] in immigration proceedings nationwide, with family members left in tears and some immigrants disappearing without their families knowing their whereabouts for up to 48 hours. Immigration attorneys condemned the operations as undermining due process and discouraging court compliance, with one attorney noting that "warrants are very bareboned and don't include the legal basis for detaining them." The arrests represent a fundamental shift [link removed] in ICE enforcement tactics, transforming immigration courts from venues where migrants seek legal relief into locations where compliance with court orders can lead directly to detention and expedited deportation. 
 

**Federal**

******New Student Visa Applications Paused as Administration Implements Social Media Screening and Conflict with Harvard University Continues**** **

The Trump administration suspended [link removed] new student visa interviews at U.S. embassies worldwide on May 27 as it prepares to expand social media screening for all international student applicants, according to a State Department cable signed by Secretary Marco Rubio. The directive orders consular sections to "not add any additional student or exchange visitor visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued," which officials expect "in the coming days." The administration previously required social media vetting primarily for students linked to pro-Palestinian campus protests, but the new policy would apply to all F, M, and J visa applicants. President Trump indicated that the screening would identify "troublemakers" and ensure admitted students "love our country," while officials are also considering [link removed] a 15% cap on international student enrollment at universities.  

Meanwhile, a federal judge in Boston extended [link removed] a temporary restraining order blocking the Trump administration from revoking Harvard University's certification to enroll international students. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs announced her intention to issue a preliminary injunction maintaining the "status quo" while Harvard's lawsuit proceeds, effectively preventing the Department of Homeland Security from terminating the university's Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification. The combined policies have created uncertainty for international students nationwide, with more than 1 million foreign students contributing nearly $44 billion annually [link removed] to the U.S. economy, prompting foreign governments and universities to begin recruiting [link removed] affected students away from American institutions. 

******Customs and Border Protection Takes on a More Active Role in Interior Immigration Enforcement, as Top Officials Push for Increased Deportation Numbers**** **

The Trump administration plans [link removed] to deploy approximately 500 Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests in the U.S. interior. The deployment, which could begin as early as the first week of June, will include Border Patrol agents, Office of Field Operations personnel, and Air and Marine Operations units to assist ICE's 25 field offices with immigration enforcement operations targeting unauthorized immigrants. This expansion comes as ICE has surpassed [link removed] CBP as the primary arresting agency for immigration violations, with ICE responsible for 81% of book-ins [link removed] from February through mid-May compared to CBP's traditional 60-80% share during the Biden administration. 

The administration has increasingly tasked personnel from multiple federal agencies [link removed] with supporting immigration enforcement, while requesting 20,000 National Guard troops [link removed] for interior operations. The personnel shift reflects the administration's emphasis on interior enforcement amid historically low [link removed] border crossing numbers. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem demanded [link removed] that ICE triple its daily arrest numbers to 3,000 people per day, according to sources familiar with a tense May 21 meeting at ICE headquarters. The pressure [link removed] comes as ICE currently holds approximately 49,000 people in detention facilities, exceeding the 47,000 beds funded by Congress, with 43% of detainees having no criminal record. 

******Department of Homeland Security Reverses on Controversial Decision to Close Three Oversight Offices but Proceeds with Major Staff Reductions**** **

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said [link removed] it will not eliminate three oversight offices after initially issuing layoff notices to the offices’ more than 300 employees in March, but the agency is proceeding with significant workforce reductions that will leave the offices operating with skeleton crews. Following a federal lawsuit [link removed] and judicial pressure, DHS posted notices on the websites of the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties [link removed] (CRCL), the Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) Ombudsman [link removed], and the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman [link removed] stating that each "continues to exist and will perform its statutorily required functions." However, court documents reveal [link removed] the administration plans to reduce staffing dramatically—from approximately 140 employees to twenty on at CRCL, from forty to eight at the CIS Ombudsman office, and from nearly one hundred to eight at the Immigration Detention Ombudsman office. 

Whistleblower disclosures filed by the Government Accountability Project reveal [link removed] that the March closure halted more than 500 active civil rights investigations involving allegations of medical neglect, sexual abuse, and dangerous detention conditions across multiple DHS components including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). DHS officials defended the reductions, stating [link removed] that the offices "have obstructed immigration enforcement by adding bureaucratic hurdles" and "often function as internal adversaries that slow down operations." Civil rights advocates remain [link removed] skeptical about the offices' ability to function effectively with such reduced staffing, particularly as the administration implements family detention policies and mass deportation operations. A federal judge has ordered DHS to report back on how it plans to meet its legal obligations with the reduced workforce, though the court declined [link removed] to halt the planned layoffs. 

******Trump Administration Releases List of "Sanctuary Jurisdictions"**** **

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published [link removed] a list on May 29 identifying more than 500 cities, counties, and states as "sanctuary jurisdictions [link removed]," claiming these areas are "deliberately obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws and endangering American citizens." The action follows President Trump's April 28 executive order [link removed] directing DHS and the Department of Justice to regularly publish such lists and identify federal grants or contracts that could be suspended or terminated for listed jurisdictions. Each jurisdiction will receive formal notification of alleged noncompliance and potential violations of federal criminal statutes, with DHS demanding immediate policy revisions to align with federal immigration laws. However, there is no specific legal definition of what constitutes a "sanctuary jurisdiction." The criteria used by DHS include broad factors and some cities listed, including Baltimore [link removed] and Las Vegas [link removed], have disputed their inclusion, with Baltimore's mayor noting the city does not control local jails and Las Vegas officials saying they hoped to "clear up this misunderstanding." 

****State and Local** **

******Florida's Venezuelan Community Responds to Loss of Temporary Protected Status**** **

The Supreme Court's May 19 decision allowing the Trump administration to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans has created widespread uncertainty in Florida, home to approximately 225,000 [link removed] Venezuelan TPS holders—roughly 75% [link removed] of those affected nationwide. Venezuelan communities across the state continue advocating for protections through ongoing legal challenges initiated in February, when advocates contested [link removed] the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) decision to terminate TPS. Despite DHS assertions of "notable [link removed]" improvements in Venezuela's economy and criminal enforcement, advocates point to the State Department's recent travel advisory [link removed] warning Americans to "not travel to Venezuela for any reason" as evidence that conditions remain dangerous. Adelys Ferro, executive director of the Venezuelan-American Caucus, emphasized that this advisory confirms the ongoing need for protections and underscores Venezuela's continued instability.  

The immediate impact has already been felt across Florida's Venezuelan communities, with employers like Walt Disney World [link removed] terminating or suspending Venezuelan workers following the court decision. In Doral, home to the largest concentration of Venezuelans in the United States, residents describe [link removed] feeling like they are "living in limbo" while the final TPS determination proceeds through litigation. Some Florida Republicans, including Representative María Elvira Salazar, have broken with the administration, expressing [link removed] "deep disappointment" with the decision and arguing that the United States should protect individuals fleeing tyranny. 

**BILLS INTRODUCED AND CONSIDERED**

It is hard to keep up with the constant deluge of proposed legislation in the 119th Congress. So, every week, we round up federal legislative proposals that have recently been introduced and that are relevant to immigration policy.* 

**S.1871** [link removed] 

 

**A bill to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop a plan to identify, integrate, and deploy new, innovative, disruptive, or other emerging or advanced technologies that are safe and secure to enhance U.S. Customs and Border Protection's capabilities to meet its mission needs along international borders and at ports of entry ** 

Sponsored by Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) (1 [link removed] cosponsor) 

05/22/2025 Introduced by Sen. Cortez Masto 

05/22/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 

**S.1908** [link removed] 

**A bill to require the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security to complete a threat assessment regarding unmanned aircraft systems at or near the international borders of the United States, and for other purposes ** 

Sponsored by Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) (1 [link removed] cosponsor) 

05/22/2025 Introduced by Sen. Lankford 

05/22/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services 

**H.R.3666** [link removed] 

**For the relief of Luana S. Cordeiro** 

The bill would provide relief for Luana S. Cordeiro through private legislation. 

Sponsored by Rep. Jefferson Van Drew (R-NJ) (0 cosponsors) 

05/29/2025 Introduced by Rep. Van Drew 

05/29/2025 Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget 

**H.R.3529** [link removed] 

**Protect Patriot Parents Act** 

The bill would render certain military parents eligible for adjustment of status. 

Sponsored by Rep. Salud O. Carbajal (D-CA) (2 [link removed] cosponsors) 

05/21/2025 Introduced by Rep. Carbajal 

05/21/2025 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary 

**H.R.3524** [link removed] 

**Protect Patriot Spouses Act** 

The bill would render certain military spouses eligible for adjustment of status. 

Sponsored by Rep. Darren Soto (D-FL) (2 [link removed] cosponsors) 

05/20/2025 Introduced by Rep. Soto 

05/20/2025 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary 

LEGISLATIVE FLOOR CALENDAR

The U.S. Senate will be in session Monday, June 2 through Friday, June 6, while the House of Representatives will meet Tuesday, June 3, through Friday, June 6. 

**GOVERNMENT REPORTS**

Reports by bodies such as the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the Congressional Research Service, and the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General provide invaluable information on immigration policy and practice. Here, we give brief summaries of new immigration-related reports, with links to the resources themselves in case you want to learn more. 

**Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General (DHS OIG);****DHS Complied with the Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019 and Progressed in Its Efforts to Prevent and Reduce Improper Payments in FY 2024** [link removed]

**; Publicly Released May 25, 2025** 

This audit by the DHS OIG determines DHS adequately complied with regulations requiring it to identify activities that may be susceptible to significant improper payments during fiscal year 2024. 

**SPOTLIGHT ON NATIONAL IMMIGRATION FORUM RESOURCES**

The Forum is constantly publishing new policy-focused resources that engage with some of the most topical issues around immigration today. Here are a few that are particularly relevant this week: 

**One Big Beautiful Bill Act: Immigration Provisions** [link removed] 

Our new explainer details the funding provided by the House reconciliation bill, H.R.1, for immigration purposes and the expansive policy provisions also included in the bill. 

**Over 2 Million Work Authorizations in Jeopardy Following Immigration Actions** [link removed] 

This fact sheet provides a quick overview of the different groups of immigrants facing either an imminent or potential revocation of their respective work authorizations. 

**Fact Sheet: Expanded Expedited Removal** [link removed]

**** 

This fact sheet gives an overview of the expanded expedited removal policy, which allows immigration officers to place undocumented immigrants (1) anywhere in the United States, (2) who cannot prove they have resided in the U.S. for at least two years in an expedited deportation process. 

*As of publication (5/30/25 at 2PM EST)

**This Bulletin is not intended to be comprehensive. Please contact Nicci Mattey, Senior Policy & Advocacy Associate at the National Immigration Forum, with questions, comments, and suggestions for additional items to be included. Nicci can be reached at****[email protected]** mailto:[email protected]

**. Thank you.**

 

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