BOSTON — A Venezuelan woman working in Gov. Maura Healey’s office has filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services, claiming the Trump administration has “unlawfully” and “unreasonably” delayed her H-1B worker visa renewal, which expires on Feb. 14.

Valentina Amaro Bowser and her American citizen husband, Brandon Bowser, and their attorneys claim she is being punished by the Trump administration for her Venezuelan origins after President Trump issued several proclamations targeting Venezuela and several other countries, including Proclamation 10998, entitled “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States" (PP 10998). Trump signed the proclamation on Dec. 16.

“The Defendants unlawful actions in implementing a hold on adjudication of benefits such as visa petitions, applications to adjust status and employment authorization cards has caused the Plaintiffs severe emotional and financial harm,” reads a legal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Boston, which states Bowser has legally lived, studied and worked in the U.S. since 2013.

Bowser’s attorneys are requesting a federal judge to compel Noem, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow, USCIS Boston Field Office Director Jerry Ammons and UCIS as an agency to renew her work visa, adding that she is “illegally being punished” for being Venezuelan.

The lawsuit argues that Trump’s proclamation only denies the entry of immigrants from various countries and does not hold authority over immigrants already in the U.S. legally.

“The Defendant, USCIS, implemented a hold on adjudication of immigration benefits based on a Presidential Proclamation which targets the entry of individuals from various countries into the United States. The USCIS does not have authority under 8 U.S.C. § 1182(f) to place a hold on adjudication of benefits applications filed by individuals who are within the United States,” the legal complaint, filed Jan. 27, says.

“The Defendants’ hold on adjudication of the Plaintiffs’ applications for immigration benefits is not rationally related to any of the stated goals set forth in the Presidential Proclamations. The Plaintiff is not seeking to enter this country from abroad,” it says.

The legal complaint states that Bowser applied for immigration benefits on Jan. 8, 2025 – nearly a year before the USCIS issued its policy memoranda and placed a hold on her applications. The complaint also says her applications were filed well in advance of when her H-1B visa expires on Feb. 14. Bowser even attended an in-person interview with USCIS officials in Boston on her applications on Jan. 7.

“The Plaintiffs relied on the Defendant USCIS to timely process their applications and but for the unlawful actions of the Defendants would now have been approved for the benefits as applied for,” the complaint says. “The lengthy and unreasonable delays in the immigration process and the unlawful hold on adjudication of the Plaintiffs applications has created significant uncertainty and difficulties for the Plaintiffs.”

Gov. Maura Healey is backing Bowser, who serves as the Media Director in her office. In a written statement, Healey told the Herald that Bowser “wants to become a United States citizen – and deserves to be,” adding that her office “will not stop fighting for Valentina.”

“Valentina Amaro Bowser has done everything right. She came to the United States to study, to join our workforce, and to contribute to our country. She has dedicated her career to public service, and specifically to making sure that every community across our state has access to their government services and resources. She loves our country and wants to become a United States citizen — and she deserves to be,” Healey said.

“Instead, the federal government is taking away her livelihood and depriving Massachusetts residents of their connection to state government. And the saddest part of all is that this isn’t just happening to Valentina — it’s happening to countless immigrants across this country who have come here lawfully, done everything by the book, and yet are still being denied their citizenship by this federal administration. We are not going to stop fighting for Valentina and for every member of our immigrant communities who is being targeted by this cruelty,” she said.

But a motion filed Friday for an emergency order for immediate preliminary relief to allow her to continue working and to keep her job states that Bowser’s employer – Gov. Healey – is only giving her until Feb. 28 to provide proof of a work visa or face termination. Bowser has been on unpaid leave since Saturday. The motion would require USCIS to immediately adjudicate her pending applications.

“Her employer will hold her job open, but only until February 28, 2026. (The Plaintiff’s Affidavit is attached hereto as Exhibit A,” the motion reads.

U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley has ordered attorneys representing the Trump Administration to respond to the motion by Feb. 16.

Bowser entered the U.S. in 2013 with a valid F-1 visa to attend college in Miami, FL, before transferring to Emerson College in Boston. She graduated Emerson with a Bachelor’s Degree in 2018, with her attorneys stating that she maintained her valid F-1 status, later being granted an Employment Authorization Card.

“The Plaintiff has never been arrested or charged with a crime anywhere in the world and has been a model non-citizen who complied in all respects with U.S. Immigration laws,” the legal complaint says.

The White House referred the Herald to DHS for comment. DHS has not yet responded.

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