Humanitarian protection in the United States refers to a group of programs and categories for people in vulnerable situations: victims of persecution and abuse, victims of human trafficking, children without parental care, and those allowed to enter or remain temporarily for urgent humanitarian reasons. It includes humanitarian parole, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), U and T visas for crime victims, the VAWA self-petition, and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS). These are separate grounds with different rules, united by a humanitarian purpose rather than a single process.
Status as of July 11, 2026. Program-based parole has changed sharply: the CHNV process (Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela) was terminated in 2025 after a Supreme Court order, Uniting for Ukraine is closed to new applicants while re-parole and previously filed benefit applications resumed under a court order (filed on Form I-131), and individual Family Reunification Parole grants are being wound down. Individual humanitarian parole under section 212(d)(5) of the INA continues on a case-by-case basis. This area is actively changing and under litigation; current program status is on uscis.gov.
What humanitarian protection includes
"Humanitarian protection" groups several independent mechanisms. Humanitarian parole gives temporary permission to be in the country but is not an immigration status. Temporary Protected Status (TPS) protects nationals of designated countries from removal during a crisis. U and T visas are for victims of crime and of human trafficking who assist law enforcement. A VAWA petition lets survivors of family abuse file for an immigrant category on their own. SIJS is a path for children left without parental care due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment. Some of these (VAWA, SIJS, and the U and T visas once conditions are met) lead to a green card; parole and TPS do not. A related process — asylum — is covered separately under asylum.
Humanitarian parole
Humanitarian parole is based on section 212(d)(5) of the immigration law (INA): the Secretary of Homeland Security may, at their discretion and case by case, temporarily allow a person into the United States for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. It is requested on Form I-131. Importantly, parole is not an immigration status and does not by itself lead to a green card; it is temporary, and before it expires a person requests a new period (re-parole) or moves to another basis. Separate from individual parole, program-based parole processes existed for nationals of specific countries (for example, CHNV and Uniting for Ukraine) — their status is described in the note above. Parolees often also obtain work authorization (an EAD).
TPS: Temporary Protected Status
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a large topic of its own: it protects nationals of designated countries from removal and generally provides work authorization for the period of the designation. The rules, designated countries, and registration windows are covered in the separate TPS section.
U and T visas
U and T visas are nonimmigrant statuses for crime victims. The U visa is for victims of certain crimes (including violence, trafficking, and serious abuse) who were harmed and assist in the investigation or prosecution; the application generally requires a certification from a law-enforcement agency. Because of a statutory annual cap on approvals, applicants are often placed on a waiting list and may receive deferred action and work authorization in the meantime. The T visa is for victims of human trafficking who generally cooperate with law enforcement. Both categories, once conditions are met, can open a path to a green card over time.
VAWA self-petition
The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) lets abused spouses and children of U.S. citizens and green-card holders, and abused parents of adult U.S. citizens, file for an immigrant category on their own — without the abuser's knowledge, consent, or participation. The petition is filed on Form I-360, and there is no fee for a VAWA self-petitioner. The applicant can list a "safe address" for correspondence, and the case is protected by confidentiality rules. An approved I-360 provides an immigrant classification and, when other conditions are met, opens a path to a green card (see green card); in some cases USCIS may grant deferred action and work authorization. VAWA applies regardless of gender.
SIJS: Special Immigrant Juvenile Status
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) is a path for children in the United States whom a juvenile court has found cannot be reunified with one or both parents due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment, and for whom returning to the home country is not in their best interest. A state court order comes first, then a petition on Form I-360 (before the 21st birthday). Approval opens a path to a green card.
What is humanitarian parole?
Humanitarian parole is temporary permission under INA section 212(d)(5) to be in the United States for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit, granted by USCIS case by case. It is not an immigration status and does not by itself lead to a green card; it is time-limited, and before it ends a person requests a new period (re-parole) or moves to another basis.
What is the difference between a U visa and a T visa?
A U visa is for victims of certain crimes who assist in the investigation or prosecution; a T visa is for victims of human trafficking. Both generally require cooperation with law enforcement and, once conditions are met, can open a path to a green card. Because of an annual cap on the U visa, applicants are often placed on a waiting list.
Who qualifies for a VAWA self-petition?
Abused spouses and children of U.S. citizens and green-card holders, and abused parents of adult U.S. citizens, can self-petition under VAWA. The abuser's consent or participation is not required, and the case is confidential; the petition is filed on Form I-360, with no fee for a VAWA self-petitioner.
Does humanitarian parole lead to a green card?
No — parole is temporary permission to be present, not an immigration status, and it does not by itself lead to permanent residence. Parolees who want to stay generally apply for another basis, such as asylum or a family category, if they qualify.
What is Special Immigrant Juvenile Status?
SIJS is a category for children in the United States whom a juvenile court has found cannot be reunified with one or both parents due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment, and for whom return to the home country is not in their best interest. After the state court order, a petition is filed on Form I-360 before the 21st birthday; approval opens a path to a green card.
Sources we track: USCIS, DHS, EOIR, the Federal Register, and federal courts.