Humanitarian

Both the special parole policy for arriving Cuban nationals, commonly known as the “wet foot/dry foot” policy, and the Cuban Medical Professional Parole Program expired on January 12, 2017. Read the announcement on the DHS website. The Cuban Family Reunification Parole Program remains in effect.

USCIS provides a number of humanitarian programs and protection to assist individuals in need of shelter or aid from disasters, oppression, emergency medical issues and other urgent circumstances.

Latest Headlines

March 31, 2020

Status of the Central American Minors Program
On Nov. 9, 2017, the Department of State stopped accepting new applications for the Central American Minors (CAM) refugee program. USCIS will stop interviewing CAM cases on Jan. 31, 2018. After that d...

Feb. 6, 2020

USCIS Supports Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation
Feb. 6 is designated as the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation....

Jan. 16, 2020

USCIS Final FY 2019 Statistics Available
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) final fiscal year (FY) 2019 agency statistics are now available online....

Refugee

Refugee status is a form of protection that may be granted to people who meet the definition of refugee and who are of special humanitarian concern to the United States.
Asylum

Asylum status is a form of protection available to people who meet the definition of refugee, are already in the United States, are seeking admission at a port of entry.
Battered Spouse, Children & Parents

As a battered spouse, child or parent, you may file an immigrant visa petition under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), as amended by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).
Victims of Human Trafficking & Other Crimes

Human trafficking, also known as trafficking in persons, is a form of modern-day slavery in which traffickers lure individuals with false promises of employment and a better life.
Special Situations

When requested, some options may be available to people affected by natural catastrophes and other extreme situations, including: extensions & changes of status, fee waivers, employment authorization, document replacement, expedited processing.
Temporary Protected Status

USCIS may grant TPS to eligible nationals of certain countries (or parts of countries), who are already in the United States to stay here for a limited period of time. Eligible individuals without nationality who last resided in the designated country may also be granted TPS.
Deferred Enforced Departure

Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) is in the President’s discretion to authorize as part of his power to conduct foreign relations and is not a specific immigration status. Individuals covered by DED are not subject to removal from the United States, usually for a designated period of time.
Special Immigrant Juveniles (SIJ) Status

Some children who are here in the U.S. without legal immigration status may need humanitarian protection because they have been abused, abandoned or neglected by a parent. Special immigrant juvenile status is an immigration classification that may allow these vulnerable children to apply immediately for lawful permanent resident status, commonly known as having a Green Card.
Female Genital Mutilation or Cutting (FGM/C)

FGM/C refers to cutting and other procedures that injure female genital organs for non-medical reasons. The U.S. government opposes FGM/C, no matter the type, degree, or severity, and no matter what the motivation for performing it. The U.S. government considers FGM/C to be a serious human rights abuse, gender-based violence, and, when done to children, a form of child abuse.
Forced Marriage

Forced marriage is a marriage that takes place without the consent of one or both people in the marriage. Consent means that you have given your full, free, and informed agreement to marry your intended spouse and to the timing of the marriage. Forced marriage may occur when family members or others use physical or emotional abuse, threats, or deception to force you to marry without your consent.