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Original Date Announced
August 16, 2017By terminating this program, DHS will no longer provide special parole consideration for certain children who are denied refugee status in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. Individuals who previously received parole under the program will maintain their status until it expires. The termination of the CAM Parole Program does not affect the CAM Refugee Program. [ID#18]
Federal Register Notice: Termination of the Central American Minors Parole ProgramEffective Date
August 16, 2017Subsequent Trump-Era and Court Action(s)
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March 1, 2019
Court orders administration to continue processing applications under this program
A federal judge granted a preliminary injunction in S.A. v. Trump (N.D. Cal.), Case No. 3:18-cv-03539, on March 01, 2019 resulting in the parole of 2,700 minors pre-approved for parole before the CAM program was terminated. This preliminary injunction was later converted into a permanent injunction on May 17, 2019.
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**Litigation is listed for informational purposes and is not comprehensive. For the current status of legal challenges, check other sources.**
Biden Administration Action: Modified
March 10, 20212021.03.10 Restarting the Central American Minors Program
This Biden administration policy modifies the Trump-era policy identified in this entry.
On March 10, 2021, the State Department announced plans to reopen the Central American Minors program, pursuant to an EO from President Biden last month directing as much. The department said that its Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, in coordination with USCIS, would begin reaching out next week to parents who had open applications in 2017 when the Trump administration shut the program down. There is no specific timeline as yet for accepting new applications.
View DocumentBiden Administration Action: Modified
June 15, 2021Joint Statement by the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Homeland Security on the Expansion of Access to the Central American Minors Program
This Biden administration policy modifies the Trump-era policy identified in this entry.
On June 15, 2021, the Department of State and Department of Homeland Security issued a joint statement announcing the second phase of the reopening of the Central American Minors Program, extending eligibility to minors with legal guardians (in addition to parents) in the United States pursuant to LPR status, TPS, parole, deferred action, deferred enforced departure, or withholding of removal; and to minors with parents and legal guardians with pending asylum or visa applications.
Go to article on state.govBiden Administration Action: Modified
September 13, 20212021.09.13 Joint Department of State and Department of Homeland Security Rollout of the Application Process for the Central American Minors (CAM) Program.pdf
This Biden administration policy modifies the Trump-era policy identified in this entry.
On September 13, 2021, the Department of State and Department of Homeland Security issued a joint statement announcing that the CAM application has been approved and that the agencies will begin accepting new applications on September 14, 2021.
View DocumentCurrent Status
Partially in effectMost Recent Action
September 13, 2021 Action: Modified 2021.09.13 Joint Department of State and Department of Homeland Security Rollout of the Application Process for the Central American Minors (CAM) Program.pdfMarch 10, 2021Acted on by Biden Administration
June 15, 2021Acted on by Biden Administration
September 13, 2021Acted on by Biden Administration
Original Trump Policy Status
Status: Final/Actual In LitigationTrump Administration Action: Program TerminationSubject Matter: MinorsAgencies Affected: USCIS Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration DOS DHSPre Trump-Era Policies
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July 26, 2016
The CAM program was established in 2014 to provide certain minors in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras the opportunity, while still in their home countries, to be considered for refugee resettlement in the United States. Individuals who were determined to be ineligible for refugee status would then be considered for the possibility of entering the United States under parole. In July 2016, the CAM program was expanded to include the sons and daughters of a U.S.-based lawfully-present parent who are over 21 years old; the in-country biological parent of the qualified children; and caregivers of qualified children who are also related to the U.S.-based lawfully present parents.
2017.07.26 U.S. Expands Initiatives to Address Central American Migration Challenges
