UPDATES ON CURRENT STATUS OF CAM PROGRAM

The Central American Minors (CAM) Refugee & Parole Program

In January 2025, President Trump issued an order indefinitely pausing the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). The CAM Program is part of USRAP, so it was also paused by this order. This means all new applications, interviews, decisions, and travel were paused because of this order. In addition, the government paused some funding to organizations in the United States that provided assistance and services to people who entered through the CAM Program.

IRAP is suing the U.S. government over this pause. Because of IRAP’s lawsuit, CAM refugee cases that were conditionally approved by January 20, 2025 should continue processing including travel to the United States. You can find the latest updates for how this lawsuit is affecting cases here.

CAM Re-Parole

While you may have heard of widespread changes made to parole programs by the Trump administration, the government has not announced any specific changes to re-parole applications for CAM parolees. At this time, the government is still accepting and deciding CAM re-parole applications on a case-by-case basis – but reports indicate that re-parole applications are unlikely to be successful at this time. In addition, the government has tried to end many other parole programs, and they could try to end CAM parole and re-parole at any time. If you are in the United States and denied re-parole, you could be put in removal proceedings unless you have received some other legal way to stay in the United States. 

CAM Hotline

Due to changes in U.S. policies, the CAM Hotline operated by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is indefinitely out of service as of February 12, 2025. If you contacted the CAM Hotline and did not receive a callback before this date, unfortunately, no one will return your call.

The information below was accurate prior to January 2025. It may no longer be relevant while the CAM Program is paused.

Summary

The U.S. government agreed to re-open some CAM applications based on an agreement made in a lawsuit called a settlement. The government agreed to open applications for certain families who were close to traveling to the United States on parole when President Trump ended the program on August 16, 2017.  

Families who travel under the settlement will have parole status. Parole is temporary permission to live in the United States.

• For more information, watch these videos.
• You can find a pamphlet about the process here.

What do I need to do to be approved for travel under the settlement?

• Watch a video about the letter that you should have received about CAM.
• Watch a video with basic information about next steps.

If your case was re-opened under the settlement, the parent in the U.S. should have received a letter from the U.S. government. It will say “Notice of Re-opening and Continued Processing for the Central American Minors Parole Program.” The letter will look like this.

The next step is for IOM or the government to contact family members in Central America who are a part of the CAM application. You do not need to do anything unless your family in Central America changed their contact information or had a child since applying for CAM. If they did change their contact information or have a new baby, you should contact IOM. 

• El Salvador: + 503 2521 0500 option 1
• Honduras: + 504 2237 7460 option 2
• Guatemala: + 502 2414 7401 ext. 7409
• iomsalsvcamparole@iom.int

Next steps will include a medical exam. The medical exam looks at whether there are any health-related reasons why you should not be allowed to enter the United States.

• IOM will ask the U.S.-based parent to pay for the medical exam by debit or credit card. If you are having trouble paying for the exam, tell that to IOM. These are the estimated costs for cases where no follow up is needed. The price will depend on the person:
  • El Salvador: $260 for adults; $145 for children, $65 for babies
  • Honduras: $160 for adults; $150 for children; $65 for babies
  • Guatemala: $245 for adults; $200 for children; $90 for babies

• IOM will provide the children or family members with the date and clinic address for the medical exam.
• During the exam, the doctor will:
  • See if you have any medical conditions.
  • See if you have any tattoos or scars.
  • Run a drug test.
  • Ask whether you use drugs, marijuana, or alcohol.
  • Ask you about any vaccinations you have had. Bring any records of your vaccinations to your medical exam to avoid having to pay for repeat vaccinations.

• If the doctor decides you need follow up medical tests, you may need to pay additional fees and make another appointment. IOM will contact your family with more information.
• Your medical exam results will be sent to IOM and the government. 

If you clear your medical exam and security checks, IOM will contact you to arrange your travel. Read below for what you should do to prepare for travel.

What do I do after I have been approved for travel? Do I need to pay?

IOM will contact you with a date for your flight to the United States. You will be asked to travel to the capital city of your country the day before your flight and to stay overnight at a hotel. You will be expected to cover these expenses.

**If you receive a phone call requesting CAM flight payments, this could be a scam. Contact IOM:

• El Salvador: + 503 2521 0500 option 1
• Honduras: + 504 2237 7460 option 2
• Guatemala: + 502 2414 7401 ext. 7409
• iomsalsvcamparole@iom.int

To travel, you will need a passport and your child may need additional documents to leave your country. You can find country-specific information here:

• El Salvador
• Honduras
• Guatemala

Before you travel:

• Come up with a plan for contacting someone in the United States as soon as possible after you get there. This is so that at least one person will know if you have problems at the airport. Give the person your flight information and decide how you will contact them.
• Make sure to pack your travel documents in a place that you can get to easily.
• Take a picture of the Form I-512L because you will need it to renew parole in the future, and sometimes immigration authorities keep it when you are processed for parole.

You can read more about what to expect at the airport here.

What do I do after I get to the United States?

You should first check how long you have CAM parole status. You can do this by looking at the stamp that the officer put in your passport at the airport or by getting an electronic copy of Form I-94 here.

Read this to understand your options for staying in the United States and why you should try to contact a lawyer right away to obtain a more permanent status. 

What do I need to do if I receive a request for evidence?

Some people receive a letter from the government that says “Notice of Re-opening and Continued Processing for the Central American Minors Parole Program and Request for Evidence,” which looks like this. This means that the government believes that the parent no longer has lawful status in the United States. The government might be wrong. If you received this letter, find a lawyer to ask for advice.

How will changes to my family (to the parent or the child/family member hoping to travel to the US) affect my CAM application?

• What if the parent no longer has legal status in the U.S.? Your CAM application will not be processed.

• What if the parent was arrested, charged with, or convicted of a crime after filing the CAM application? You should find a lawyer to ask for advice about how it affects the parent’s lawful status in the US. The parent must have lawful status for the CAM application to be processed.

• What if the child is now over 21 years old? Your application will be processed if you received the re-opening letter for the child.

• What if the child has gotten married? Your application will not be processed if the child is legally married. If the child is living together with another person but is not legally married, the application will still be processed.

• What if the family member in Central America on the application had a new baby? Tell IOM about the new baby and you may be able to add the baby to your case.  This video has information about how to send updated information about new babies to the government.

• What if the child or family member on the application does not live in the same country they were in before? Your application will be processed if the child/family member lives in one of the CAM countries: El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala. They may be allowed to process in other countries as well. They may want to find a lawyer to ask for advice before returning to one of the CAM countries.

• What if the family member in Central America on the application has been deported from the United States? Your application may still be processed. Being deported from the United States does not automatically disqualify you from CAM, but the government might consider it in deciding whether to approve the application. 

What if I have more questions about the settlement or about CAM? 

• You can read more about the lawsuit here.
• You can go here if the government did not give you money back for your DNA test.