The Trump administration has decided to revoke legal protections for more than 530,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. This move aligns with US President Donald Trump’s ongoing crackdown on immigration and paves the way for mass deportations.
DHS Announces One-Month Deadline
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that these migrants will become eligible for deportation in about a month. Most of them arrived in the US after October 2022 under a humanitarian parole program. They were granted two-year permits to live and work with financial sponsors. However, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that their legal status will officially end on April 24, or 30 days after the policy is published in the Federal Register.
Policy Targets Humanitarian Parole Program
Notably, this decision affects those legally staying under the parole program. The Trump administration had previously restricted it, calling it a misuse of the system. Before this change, migrants with valid permits could stay until they expired. However, the administration had already stopped processing asylum, visa, and other applications that could help them extend their stay. As a result, this policy shift has now sparked legal challenges in federal courts.
Biden’s Immigration Deal with Mexico Ends
Under the Biden administration, up to 30,000 migrants from these countries were allowed to stay in the US for two years with work permits. In exchange, Mexico agreed to take back the same number of deported migrants. Meanwhile, Cuba accepted only one deportation flight per month, whereas Haiti—despite ongoing unrest—allowed multiple deportation flights, especially after a large influx of migrants arrived in Texas in 2021.
Future of Migrants Remains Uncertain
Since late 2022, more than half a million migrants entered the US through the CHNV program. This policy was part of Biden’s strategy to balance legal immigration channels while strengthening border security. However, with the Trump administration’s latest decision, thousands of migrants now face an uncertain future.
