In a significant policy shift, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Friday its decision to revoke legal protections for approximately 532,000 immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. This change will potentially set these individuals up for deportation in about a month, specifically on April 24, 2024, which is 30 days following the publication of the notice in the Federal Register.
The order affects those who arrived in the United States since October 2022 under the humanitarian parole program, which allowed them to live and work in the country with the support of financial sponsors. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that these individuals will lose their legal status, marking a drastic turn for many who had been living in the U.S. under temporary protections.
Under the prior administration, the Trump administration had criticized the humanitarian parole program, labeling it as a “broad abuse” of a legal tool that has traditionally been used to assist individuals fleeing war or political instability. This latest move aligns with a broader trend initiated during Trump's presidency, where legal pathways for immigrants have been systematically reduced.
The DHS has made it clear that individuals without a lawful basis to remain in the U.S. “must depart” prior to the termination of their parole. According to the DHS, “Parole is inherently temporary, and parole alone is not an underlying basis for obtaining any immigration status.” Previously, those under the program could remain in the U.S. until their parole expired, even as the administration halted the processing of asylum applications and other requests for longer-term status.
This policy decision has already faced legal challenges in federal courts. A coalition of American citizens and immigrants has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, seeking to reinstate humanitarian parole for these four nationalities. Activists and legal advocates have vocalized their opposition, with Karen Tumlin, founder and director of the Justice Action Center, condemning the move as “reckless, cruel and counterproductive.” She emphasized that this action is likely to “cause needless chaos and heartbreak for families and communities across the country.”
In contrast, the Biden administration previously permitted up to 30,000 individuals per month from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to enter the U.S. for two years with work eligibility. The administration also negotiated with Mexico to accept a similar number of deportees, as returning individuals to their home countries has proven challenging. While Cuba generally accepted about one deportation flight each month, both Venezuela and Nicaragua have resisted accepting deportees, complicating the U.S. immigration strategy.
Haiti, however, has been more receptive to deportation flights, particularly after a surge of migrants from the country in 2021. Nevertheless, ongoing turmoil in Haiti has hampered U.S. efforts to manage migration effectively.
Since late 2022, over half a million people have entered the U.S. under this policy, referred to as CHNV. This program was part of the Biden administration’s broader strategy to encourage migration through legal channels while simultaneously enforcing stricter measures against illegal border crossings. As this new policy unfolds, the implications for affected individuals and communities remain significant.
