WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States government has announced a decision to terminate the legal status of more than 500,000 immigrants, giving them a 30-day window to leave the country unless they secure alternative immigration status.
This move, confirmed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Friday, marks the latest step in President Donald Trump’s aggressive campaign to curb immigration.
The decision affects approximately 532,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela who had been granted temporary entry under the Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans (CHNV) program.
The program was initiated in October 2022 by then-President Joe Biden and expanded in January 2023, allowing up to 30,000 individuals per month from these nations to live and work in the United States for two years.
Many of these migrants fled oppressive regimes, economic turmoil, and severe human rights violations in their home countries.
Under the new DHS order, their legal protection will expire 30 days after its publication in the Federal Register, scheduled for Tuesday.
This means they must leave the country by April 24 unless they qualify for another legal immigration pathway.
The announcement has sparked widespread concern among immigration advocates.
Welcome.US, an organization that supports individuals seeking refuge in the United States, urged affected individuals to seek legal advice immediately.
“This decision will upend the lives of thousands who came here seeking safety and opportunity,” the group said in a statement.
The CHNV program was touted by the Biden administration as a “safe and humane” alternative to the dangerous and often deadly migration routes along the US-Mexico border.
It provided a structured process for entry, bypassing the chaotic and risky crossings that had overwhelmed border officials in recent years.
However, the DHS emphasized Friday that the program was always intended as a temporary measure.
“Parole is inherently temporary,” the DHS order stated, adding that the program does not grant participants any pathway to permanent legal status or citizenship.
Immigration experts have noted that this lack of long-term solutions has left migrants vulnerable to sudden policy changes, such as the one announced this week.
The decision aligns with President Trump’s broader immigration agenda, which includes what he has described as the largest deportation campaign in US history.
Trump has pledged to reduce migration, especially from Latin American nations, and recently invoked rare wartime legislation to deport over 200 alleged members of a Venezuelan gang to El Salvador.
In a controversial deal, El Salvador offered to imprison both migrants and US citizens at a discounted cost.
The move to terminate the CHNV program reflects Trump’s hardline stance and a significant departure from his predecessor’s policies.
Biden, who launched the initiative, had called it a “necessary measure” to ease pressure at the border while providing refuge for individuals escaping dire conditions.
For the migrants affected, the future is fraught with uncertainty. Many left behind dire conditions in their home countries, seeking safety and stability in the United States.
Advocates warn that sudden deportations could force them back into dangerous or untenable situations.
The decision also raises broader questions about the United States’ immigration system and its ability to balance national security with humanitarian obligations.
While the Trump administration views the move as a necessary enforcement of immigration laws, critics argue it underscores a lack of empathy and planning for those who sought refuge under promises of temporary protection.
