In a significant legal decision, the US Supreme Court ruled on Friday that the Trump administration has the authority to temporarily revoke the legal status of over 500,000 migrants residing in the United States. This ruling effectively puts on hold a previous federal judge's order that aimed to prevent the administration from ending the parole immigration program, which was originally established by former President Joe Biden. This program was designed to protect immigrants fleeing economic and political turmoil in their home countries.
The new order places approximately 530,000 migrants from countries such as Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela at risk of deportation. The parole program allows these immigrants to obtain temporary status to live and work in the US for two years, based on urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit, as stated by the US government. This decision has far-reaching implications for those who have relied on this program for safety and stability.
Notably, Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson and Sonia Sotomayor, two of the court's three liberal justices, dissented from the majority opinion. Justice Jackson expressed concern that the court's order would lead to the lives of half a million migrants unraveling before their legal claims are resolved. This highlights the ongoing debate surrounding immigration policy and the rights of migrants in the US.
On his first day in office, former President Trump signed an executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security to eliminate parole programs. In March, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the termination of the CHNV humanitarian parole program. This move prompted several immigrant rights groups and affected migrants to file lawsuits against the Trump administration. They argued that deportation back to their home countries could expose them to serious risks, including danger, persecution, and even death.
This ruling follows an earlier decision by the Supreme Court, which allowed Trump officials to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for around 350,000 Venezuelan immigrants currently living and working in the US. Such programs, over the decades, have been crucial in offering refuge to individuals fleeing war and other tumultuous conditions in their home countries. The use of humanitarian parole programs dates back to the 1960s, when Cuban migrants sought asylum after the Cuban revolution.
In contrast, the Biden administration established a parole program in 2022 specifically for Ukrainians fleeing the conflict triggered by Russia's invasion. This unfolding situation underscores the complex and evolving landscape of immigration policy in the United States, as well as the challenges faced by migrants seeking safety and a new life.
