The U.S. government has announced the termination of legal status for more than 500,000 immigrants, giving them just weeks to leave the country unless they secure another form of legal residency.
The move, revealed on Friday, primarily impacts Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans who entered the U.S. under a humanitarian parole program introduced by President Joe Biden in October 2022 and expanded in early 2023.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the affected individuals will lose their protections 30 days after the order is officially published in the Federal Register—scheduled for Tuesday—meaning they must leave by April 24 unless they qualify for another immigration status.
The CHNV program initially allowed up to 30,000 migrants per month from the four countries to enter the U.S. for two years. Biden promoted it as a “safe and humane” solution to relieve pressure on the U.S.-Mexico border. However, DHS now emphasizes that the program was always temporary, stating, “Parole alone does not provide a path to permanent residency or legal admission.”
This decision aligns with former President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration stance, as he has vowed to execute the largest deportation campaign in U.S. history. Just last week, Trump used wartime legislation to deport over 200 alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador, which has controversially offered to imprison deportees—including U.S. citizens—at a discounted rate.
Immigrant advocacy groups, including Welcome.US, are urging those affected to seek immediate legal assistance. With thousands now racing against time to find a way to stay, the question remains—what’s next for these immigrants as their futures hang in the balance?
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