The Trump administration has announced its intention to revoke the temporary legal status of over half a million migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. This decision affects approximately 530,000 individuals who currently reside in the United States under a program established during the Biden era. The federal government has issued a notice informing these migrants that they must leave the country before their work permits and deportation protections are canceled on April 24.
The migrants in question were allowed to enter the US through a sponsorship initiative known as CHNV, which stands for Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. This program was designed to facilitate legal migration pathways and was launched in 2022 under the Biden administration. Initially, the program was focused on Venezuelans but was later expanded to include migrants from other countries. Under this initiative, migrants and their immediate family members could fly into the US if they had American sponsors and could remain in the country for two years under temporary immigration status called parole.
The revocation of this temporary legal status raises concerns for the affected migrants, who may find themselves without a legal basis to remain in the country. It remains uncertain how many of these individuals have been able to secure alternative legal statuses during their time in the US. The potential loss of this status could lead many to face deportation, prompting urgent calls for action from advocacy groups.
The decision has sparked a political backlash, with the Department of Homeland Security accusing the previous administration of misleading the public. In a statement, the agency claimed that Biden officials provided these migrants with opportunities to compete for jobs in the US, which some argue undermined American workers. Furthermore, the agency stated that career civil servants were pressured to promote the CHNV program even in the face of identified fraud, and Republicans in Congress were blamed for the resulting chaos and crime.
Beyond the CHNV migrants, the Trump administration is also contemplating whether to cancel the temporary legal status of approximately 240,000 Ukrainians who fled to the US due to the ongoing conflict with Russia. This consideration adds another layer of complexity to the current immigration landscape, as many migrants are now left uncertain about their future in the United States.
The impending revocation of temporary legal status for migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela signals a significant shift in US immigration policy under the Trump administration. As the deadline approaches, the affected individuals are urged to seek legal counsel and explore their options to secure their future in the United States.
