The Trump administration has announced the revocation of legal protections for 530,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, potentially leaving them vulnerable to deportation within the next month.
The decision, disclosed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Friday, effectively ends a temporary parole program introduced by former President Joe Biden, which had allowed migrants from these four countries to enter the United States under a two-year legal status.
According to DHS, migrants who arrived in the US since October 2022 under the program will lose their legal status on April 24 or 30 days after the notice is officially published in the Federal Register. The agency stated that those without a lawful basis to remain in the country “must depart” before their parole termination date.
The humanitarian parole system, a long-standing presidential tool used to provide temporary refuge to people fleeing political instability and conflict, was expanded by the Biden administration in 2022.
Initially, it allowed entry for Venezuelans and was later extended in 2023 to include Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans amid increasing migration from these regions.
However, since assuming office, Donald Trump has sought to dismantle the program, arguing that it was an overreach of federal law and had led to “broad abuse” of the immigration system.
While it remains unclear how many of those affected have secured alternative legal status, the revocation of parole status could expose thousands to deportation. Diplomatic relations between Washington and the affected nations have been strained in recent years, adding further uncertainty to the situation.
The latest move is part of the Trump administration’s broader push to tighten immigration controls.
On January 20, Trump issued an executive order directing the termination of several parole initiatives introduced by his Democratic predecessor. The administration has also signaled plans to accelerate deportations of undocumented migrants as part of its immigration enforcement efforts.
