The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Friday that it will end legal protections for 532,000 immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. These individuals, who arrived in the U.S. since October 2022, were allowed to stay and work under a humanitarian parole program. However, their legal status will expire on April 24, 2025, leaving them at risk of deportation.
Why Is This Happening?
The decision follows a policy change by the Trump administration, which argues that the humanitarian parole system was being misused. Parole is typically granted in emergencies, such as war or political crises, allowing people to temporarily stay in the U.S. While previous administrations used this policy to provide relief, Trump’s team believes it was overused and should be limited.
Who Is Affected?
The change impacts people who:
- Entered legally under the parole program with financial sponsors.
- Were given two-year permits to live and work in the U.S.
- Have no other legal immigration status allowing them to stay.
DHS has made it clear that individuals without a lawful reason to remain must leave before their parole expires.
Legal Challenges and Reactions
This decision has faced strong opposition from lawyers, activists, and immigrant advocacy groups. Karen Tumlin, director of the Justice Action Center, criticized the move, calling it “reckless, cruel, and counterproductive.” Her organization, along with other groups, has filed a lawsuit to challenge the termination of parole.
Many immigrants and their families are now left in limbo, uncertain about their future.
How Did the Program Work?
Under the Biden administration, up to 30,000 people per month from these four countries were allowed to enter the U.S. legally. In exchange, Mexico agreed to accept the same number of deported migrants from these nations.
However, deportation efforts have faced challenges:
- Cuba accepted one deportation flight per month.
- Venezuela and Nicaragua refused to take any deportees.
- Haiti, despite its political instability, accepted many deportation flights.
What’s Next?
With legal protections ending, many immigrants now face possible deportation or will have to find alternative ways to stay in the U.S. The outcome of the ongoing legal battle could determine whether some of these individuals regain their legal status.
This decision marks a major shift in U.S. immigration policy and is expected to create significant challenges for affected families.
